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 are back where we belong, ladies and gentlemen, after weeks to convent

to the Julia Hartley Brewer breakfast show, the Independent Republic returns for another week of common sense,

something that is sadly lacking out there in the big wide world at the moment.

Thank you very much indeed to Christo Fufas for sitting in for me all last

week and thanks to Julia Hartley-Brew for coming back and allowing me to sleep until 7 o'clock in the

morning. First up, we've got all the allegations about Pretty Patel, front page of the Times,

where are they coming from? Who is behind them? And why has she now ordered an inquiry into who

is leaking damaging stories about her?

It would appear that nothing in Whitehall is as it seems.

The Home Secretary's war with her civil servants has now got nuclear

after claims were made that she has somehow lost the trust of MI5 and MI6.

One of the more senior officials has already resigned from the Visa and Immigration Department,

and I've got a feeling that this will not end well.

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Meanwhile, the new Chancellor of Rishi Sunak is preparing for a budget-busting spend next month

because apparently he's got an extra £8 billion in the coffers.

Some economists, though, are warning that more spending will eventually lead to higher taxes.

Surely, they can't tax us anymore, can they?

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Coming up, we are joined by Royal Expert Robert Hardman,

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