Testing debate

Every now and then a story comes along that has the nation deeply divided over something other than Brexit or lockdown. This time it is the fate of Geronimo, the alpaca. He has been sentenced to death because he has tested positive twice for bovine TB and is considered a threat to cows. Geronimo’s owner suspects a false reading but the High Court has refused permission for another test, the first being four years ago. A third test is against the rules, apparently, and farmers want no exceptions. George Eustice, the Environment Secretary, is the man responsible and has defended the reliability of the testing. He might discover that when a cause célèbre is a cuddly alpaca the rules are there to be broken.