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Hello and welcome to Spectator Out Loud, where each week we choose some of our favourite pieces from the magazine and ask their writers to read them aloud.

This week for part one of our special Christmas edition of Spectator Out Loud, James Heel reflects on the state of British politics and wonders if the Prime Minister will really have a happy

new year. Charles Brandreth discusses how Her Majesty the Queen is spreading the joy of reading

and reveals the best books that

her majesty has personally selected to give this Christmas. Avey Loeb argues why, logically, a comet

could be a spaceship. Maloney McDonough compares Protestant and Catholic ghosts. Mary Wakefield

explains what England's old folk songs can teach us. Richard Bratby says there is joy to be found in composers' graves.

And finally, Rupert Hawkesey provides his notes on washing up.

Up first, James Heel.

Kierstama will start the new year as he means to go on,

by attempting to convince his troops that he is still the best man to lead them.

Prime Minister will begin 2026 by hosting Labour MPs at Chequers. The motive behind the outreach is simple. The only question

that matters this year, says a non-invete, is where the Keir can cling on. It was not so long ago

that a peacetime Prime Minister, with a healthy working majority, was thought to be unassailable. No

longer. The defining moment in Parliament these past 12 months

was the summer welfare rebellion. After 120 Labour MPs threatened revolt, the five billion

pounds were withdrawn. The party took back controls as a minister. Some of the whips office wished

...