Across the UK, online, on DAB and on your smart speaker, the Independent Republic of Mike Graham on Talk Radio.

Good morning and welcome to the Independent Republic of Mike Graham right here on Talk Radio. And may I say a very happy fifth birthday

to us. That is us at Talk Radio. I haven't been here for the whole five years. Julie Hartley-Brew has.

It's been quite a remarkable roller coaster ride. We'll talk a bit about that coming up a bit later on.

But let's talk first about the weekend because it was quite a weekend, was it not? The New Britain

forged its way towards yet more division and dilution as the streets were filled with protesters, both peaceful and violent in different measure. On Saturday, families with young children marched in London against lockdown measures that are preventing people from living normal lives and making a living.

Thousands upon thousands of demonstrators walked around in central London, unencumbered by the police to a large

extent, who mostly looked a bit bewildered and confused about how to react, because of course,

of what had happened the previous weekend on Clapham Common. In the end, there were a few arrests

and some minor scuffles, but nothing really went too badly wrong. And I'm not suggesting for a

minute that absolutely everyone in the lockdown protest was well-behaved because they probably weren't. But meanwhile, in Bristol last night, there was a

full-scale anarchy as mobs of anti-government and anti-police provocateurs besieged part of the

city, setting police fans on fire and attacking officers in a violent rampage, supposed to be in

support of, wait for it, peaceful protest. Eventually, the Avon and Somerset could savannery regain control.

But for several hours, it was mob rule.

Just seven arrests were being made, despite over 20 officers being injured.

Some of the people who were taking part of the demonstration were spray painting the police station,

trying to smash the windows of the police station.

One guy on a skateboard was doing skateboard tricks on his skateboard as a policeman was on fire behind him.

And of course there are many now saying that it's the logical result of last year's events

where a statue was pulled down and thrown into the harbour while police officers stood by and watched.

There can be no doubt this is now a police crisis in this country

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