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 Talker Radio.

So that went quite well, didn't it? For the first time, in a long time, there was a government media briefing yesterday that actually sounded quite hopeful. Chris Whissy even made a whimsical remark about the yobbo that had abused him in the previous 24 hours. At this rate, he's going to come out looking a lot more human than his assailant. But first things first, here's what he had to say. Cases, deaths and hospital admissions from COVID-19 are all tumbling, so much so

that Whitty says we are now well past the peak, which is generally thought to be January the 12th,

less than two weeks into the national lockdown. So now there's talk of schools reopening in March,

the sooner the better as far as most parents are concerned, and then what? We'll ask the

Independence Chief Political Commentator what he makes of it all. John Rental will be here. And of course, we'll also ask him whether Sir Keir Stama really did have

to be restrained after PMQs yesterday. Apparently there was a bit of a dust up after Prime

Minister's questions outside of the chamber where there was a lot of shouting, a lot of finger pointing

and possibly even the few threats being handed out.

Coming up later on, Baroness Kate Hoey is here with her solution to the problems in Northern

Ireland, which to me, appeared to have been caused by a combination of EU intransigence and threats

from paramilitary groups.

The question is, can Boris fix it?

Did he sign the deal just to get the deal done so that he could then renege

on the deal a little bit later on down the road? Also, Helen Dale is here too, looking ahead

to the French elections, where a new poll puts Marine Le Pen ahead of President Emmanuel Macron

for the first time. Plus, you'll have a look at the shambles inside the Scottish National Party,

or of course, the Scottish Nationalist Party, if you prefer.

03444-49-1,000, as if that wasn't enough, we are looking at government plans to impose a

carbon tax, not on fuel, not on flying, not on bonfires, no, on meat and cheese.

For heaven's sake, where is it going to end?

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