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

It is a big day in the ever-evolving world of the coronavirus pandemic.

Today is the day that non-essential shops open.

The day that Prime Minister Boris Johnson says you should spend your way back to happiness.

The day that you can go out and buy a car, a shirt,

a pair of shoes, or even a house, if that's what you fancy doing. Yes, ladies and gentlemen,

even if football is back in a couple of days' time, even though you won't actually be able

to sit in the stadium and watch it. It feels like the start of a new openness, although

you would be forgiven for thinking that lockdown is more or less over anyway, given that raves have been taking place

with thousands of people in attendance, and marches and street battles have been going on,

regardless of social distancing rules and government guidelines.

I was told yesterday in London, where I was not until last night, that basically it looked

as though it was a normal Sunday afternoon.

People were out in the parks, people were going to pubs which are open and selling people

beer and wine and various other alcoholic drinks which they can take away and sit 50 yards

away from the pub and drink.

Of course, let's get one thing straight.

And this is a message to all activists right now, extremists and sundry idiots.

The streets of London, which I call home, are not open for fighting.

They are not venues for you to organise running battles in. I couldn't care less what your

cause is. You have no reason to attack the police, nor do you have a license to scare off families,

tourists or visitors from our great capital. So can we please draw a line under this kind of

...