Dinner across the gap: 'If we had been on a train we wouldn't have talked - but we had so much in common'

Russell, 37, London

Profession University Lecturer in British and European languages ​​politics

Voting record Voted in five elections for three different parties, based on who looked best on the day, and no of tribal loyalty

Amuse bouche He ran into Jacob Rees-Mogg in the toilets of the House of Commons and convinced him that they were sharing a bottle of wine during of a conservative conference. Russell has never been to a conservative conference

Zaf, 33, London

Occupational director of analytics at a major FTSE 100 company

Voting record Generally Labor

Amuse bouche Instead of a midlife crisis, it's having a hipster life crisis and engaging with mustache wax and fixie bikes

Getting started

Zaf I had crab salad and hen of the woods, which is a mushroom supposed to taste like chicken. It was, vaguely. It tasted more like mushrooms, but I like mushrooms.

Russell I ate monkfish with - what's that fancy ham called? - Parme's ham. Zaf was affable and friendly - we got along like a house on fire.

Zaf I was a bit intimidated as he has a doctorate in political science. But we got on incredibly well.