I am not an uncritical admirer of the US, but full marks to states which are passing laws enabling their courts to refuse to enforce English libel judgments. It is no cause for pride that our courts attract libel claimants. English defamation laws, including the strange reversal of the burden of proof onto the defendant, are too easily a tool for the wealthy and powerful to gag criticism of their behaviour. It is time to reassert freedom of expression in this country.

John Ball, Falmouth, Cornwall