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 and Radio. There is some good news for us to absorb this morning, ladies and gentlemen, as the gloom lifts over London and the blue sky broadens our horizons. It looks like we have the

lowest number of COVID cases since December. And with vaccine numbers nearing 10 million,

the Prime Minister is already talking about some kind of normality returning in the summer,

which might just be the best news we've heard all year. I know it's only the 2nd February, but hey, listen, we'll take it where we can get it. This morning we'll be taking the

temperature of the nation with George Pascoe Watson, former political editor of the Sun. Of course,

chairman now of Portland Communications. I'll also be asking him, what on earth is going on with

the SNB? Because they seem to be disintegrated before our very eyes. Joanna Cherry seems to have been sacked from the front bench by Ian Blackford

because she's too friendly with Alex Salmon for one thing.

And also, she rather agrees with Julia Hartley Brewer on the status of women.

We'll also be checking out what this new South African variant is all about

and how so many people can have been infected with it

without being connected in any way, shape or form. And if this massive testing program is going to be successful,

what in fact needs to happen? Plus, as ever, we need to hear from all of you. What are you

seeing? What are you doing? And where are you going? If indeed you're going anywhere. Some

people have already started looking at the possibility of going on a summer holiday.

Some people have started looking at the possibility of sending their kids back to school.

We certainly seem to be, at the very least, I hesitate to say, heading into some kind of home straight.

Would that be a bit too optimistic for you?

034449-1,000. We do also know, of course, that many of you are still suffering horrendously.

We're going to be talking about the hospitality business.

There's a campaign being launched today which we're very pleased to illuminate,

...