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Hello and welcome to Spectator Out Loud. I'm Fraser Nelson.

Each week, we ask a few of our writers to read their piece from the magazine aloud.

In this episode, Arnold Boyer asks whether it's racist to wonder what colour your child's skin will be.

Lionel Shriver says the West has unthinkingly accepted China's totalitarian tactics to suppress the virus.

And finally, Melissa Kite, our real-life columnists,

describes an infuriating encounter with what she describes as obnoxious Surrey battle axes.

I'm not quite sure of her such a thing, but you can hear her explain why there is.

First up, Anil Boyrol.

Maybe I miss something here, or maybe I am just completely naive.

But why is it racist to ponder what the skin color of a new baby will be?

Well, according to most of the American and British media, post the Harry and Megan interview, it absolutely is racist.

It's horrendous, evil, bigoted, especially so in the US,

country where barely 10% of the married population is actually interracial.

But these are the views of people that don't actually know what they're talking about

because they're not part of it or in the slightest bit close to an interracial couple.

So, first the obvious declaration of interest. Me,

I was born in Mauritius, I look Asian, or brown if you prefer. My wife was born in Slovenia.

She is white and blonde. Yes, it's an unusual match. But our respective families are the most

open-minded groups of people you could ever meet. Never a hint of racism on either side.

But have we discussed the skin colours of my kids since long before they were born? You bet we have,

and still do. Before my son Joe popped out 11 years ago, my late mother inquired endlessly

...