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 of Radio.

And so there it is. Just when you thought it was all getting a bit depressing. The weather, the restrictions,

the shuffling around the arrows on the floors in the supermarkets and the other shops,

and the sitting outside in the cold. We finally actually have some light at the end of the tunnel,

although looking out the window, it's not very light at all out there today. Opening up the hospitality

business and unlocking the doors to cinemas and theatres is happening on Monday. Now we hear

that masks are heading for the chop too, as well as being banished from classrooms and school corridors.

We're told that come June to 21st, they won't be required anymore in shops and offices.

Hallelujah, is what I say. I'm getting so fed up wearing them. I'm hoping public transport

bans them as well. Of course, if you feel the need to keep one on, be my guest. I'm not one of

those people that forces other people to do what I want them to do or to do what I tell them to do, but if it's safe for children to mingle in school without them,

if you don't need to wear them in the shops, then why are we going to wear them anywhere?

Would be my question. We'll be seeking an expert opinion or two, because there are some people who still think, oh my God, if you're not wearing a mask, you're going to kill someone.

Well, I really think that that is hardly likely to be the case because if it was the case they wouldn't be telling children that they don't have to wear them quite frankly i think the marx debate is more

or less over isn't it oh 34449 1,000 it's great to be right again sorry to apologize for that

coming up first this morning though we're talking to a doctor a GP no less doctor erfan malick

he practices in nottingham and he is as annoyed as everyone

else is that doctors are not seeing enough patients face to face. Yesterday we spoke to Alison

Pearson from the Daily Telegraph. She's got a campaign going, as have we, to get the GP

surgeries reopened, right, despite the fact that the NHS this morning has told them that

they should really triage people on video and over the telephone

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