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Hello and welcome to Spectator Out Loud, the podcast from The Spectator where we pick a few of our writers each week to get them to read their pieces out for you.

This week we'll be joined by comedian Griffreys Jones, who talks about how London has become a war zone for motorists.

Also on the episode this week, Toby Young on why he's become an English

nationalist, and at the very end, Cosmo Landersman on the joys of drinking alone. First, Griffreys

Jones. Late one evening in Yangong in Myanmar a few years ago, I noticed a grey Morris

minor van patrolling the streets.

It had an old-fashioned double-ended trumpet-loud speaker on its roof, blaring out an amplified voice.

What's it saying? I asked my guide.

It tells the people, it's late. Stop drinking and go to bed. You have a busy day tomorrow,

she told me. That's the spirit. We should get some of that in London. Stop eating, get on your

bikes, pedal faster. Why has COVID brought out a rash of virtuous bullying? I've lost count of the number of times

that Radio 4 has asserted that this plague will create a better, more caring, more aware,

lovelier human race. And if not, we can, of course, be ordered to be so. Now, in the middle of calamity,

as we try to save a faltering economy, halt the return of a deadly pandemic, and resume

normality, transport for London, TFL, in league with earnest local councillors and encouraged by the government have decided to take

this moment to force Londoners to adopt a more worthy form of personal transport. They've arbitrarily

closed off Park Lane, Euston Road, the Edgeware Road and hundreds of other main arteries.

Their world-leading street space for London will stop rat runs and make London areas access only.

A? How? These are the main roads. You may love all this if you're fit and 20. The elderly

...