Why is a duck in my podcast? I hear you say. Well, I need your help. We live in a water stressed area and this can affect our local environment, even in the winter. By making small everyday changes, you can save water and money of your bills. So leave your heating on a constant low temperature to protect pipes from freezing, stopping leaks and tire water use. Find more tips at affinitywater.com.ukuk slash save our streams.

Affinity water, safe water, safe money and help save our streams.

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.

The people have spoken, ladies and gentlemen, sick of the narrative, tired of the broken promises,

fed up with the goldposts constantly being moved and irritated by the ever-changing policies of this government lockdown. We decided to ask talk radio listeners what they thought.

After all, we are the home of common sense,

the place where freedom of speech is not only promoted, but is positively encouraged.

Yesterday, we were thrown a challenge by independent travel editor Simon Calder.

He said he bet that if we ask the audience what they wanted from Boris Johnson,

they would say tighter border controls, not less border controls and a better lockdown.

I disagreed. And guess what? You didn't let me down. We are constantly told by government ministers in the media that we all want a tighter lockdown.

You go poll after poll reports that 70% of people in Britain want more restrictions on their lives and their liberties.

Well, not here at Talk Radio, because here are the results.

With just half an hour left to go in a 24-hour Twitter poll, I could declare the results

because they're not very likely to change any time soon.

The message is loud and clear.

You want the government to end the shutdown and let us live our lives.

That's right. Almost one year on from the first restrictions being imposed because of a virus from China after three national lockdowns, a firebreak, tears one, two, three, four and five.

Was there a six? I can't remember. A month's of frustration. Here's what you want.

Asked whether you want to shut down borders or open the economy,

a massive 81% of you want to open the economy. And since over 28,000 of you actually voted,

...