SO far the government has been successful in stopping continental TV pornographers flooding British television with X-rated filth.

But now the European Court of Justice has said governments have no right to block satellite channels if they are legal in the countries where they are based. The ruling, made in the name of 'broadcasting freedom' will hit the government's successful attempts to halt channels such as Red Hot Dutch.

There is something wrong with a judicial system that allows pornography into a country which does not want it. And Britain certainly doesn't.

The Luxembourg-based court needs reforming. It has frequently overturned decisions made in British courts and the President of the European Commission Jacques Santer has stated that European law must always come first over national law.

Perhaps the time has come for the British government to defy the court and tell them that M Santer's stance is unacceptable.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.