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Hello, I'm Sam Holmes and welcome to Spectator Out Loud. Every week, a few of our favourite writers read their pieces from the latest issue.

This week, we'll hear Katie Balls's thoughts on the importance of Kier Stama's performance this weekend at the Labour Party

Conference, Nicola Christie on the exciting new wave of British musical theatre, and finally

Hannah Toames talking about why Facebook won't let her post about the English Waterway, Cockshoot

Dyke. First up, Katie Balls.

Next week, when Kirstarmer appears on stage at Labour Conference in Brighton,

it would be the first time he has spoken to a packed crowd of party members since he became leader.

COVID restrictions meant that his inaugural leadership speech at party conference in September 2020 was delivered

to an empty hall and shared via a video link. It was a blessing in disguise. Stalmer had an excuse

for failing to make much of an impression. He was also able to deliver criticism of the

Jeremy Corbyn era without fear of booze from the delegates. His audience will be less forgiving now.

Over the past year, his position as Labour leader has weakened. Disappointing local election

results, a botched shadow cabinet reshuffle and Stama's sliding popularity in the polls, have led

to speculation about his ability to lead the party to power. The hope was that

Starm would be more moderate than Corbyn and therefore more electable. Yet few believe he is on

course for Downing Street. Is Stama too robotic to appeal to the public? And if he can get the

intention of voters, does he have anything to say to them? It's not uncommon to hear members of the shadow

cabinet say that it will take two more elections for Labour to get into government. A party

...