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.

We have reached the end of another tumultuous week, ladies and gentlemen, and it would appear it is all about the data. Of course it's

all about the data, right? As the government prepares to launch yet another lockdown on parts of

the north of England, it is claiming it is being guided by the scientific information once more.

But where, ladies and gentlemen, is the evidence. First of all, the evidence for closing

tens of thousands of venues across the north of England is based on a sample size of just

100 pubs and is once again the result of an enhanced contact tracing exercise, their words, not mine,

by the Chris Half-Witty Brigade. In other words, it's made up nonsense extrapolated from an assumed scenario.

Then there's the looming beds crisis, the Director of Public Health in Liverpool and some other

health professionals, none of whom are actually doctors, have warned that their hospitals might

be overwhelmed somewhere between 10 and 22 days from now.

Hmm, we've heard that one before, haven't we? That's might. That's good.

It's a set of circumstances that may conspire together.

That's an if.

Then there's the actual facts.

The average age of COVID death is 82.4.

That doesn't mean people younger than that won't die,

but it is a fact that it is almost one year older

than the average age of non-COVID death in this country.

Do you see where we're going with this?

Meanwhile, SAGE, those very unsage people who advise the government on scientific policy,

...