R.I.P. Shambo →[More:]
Shambo the bull has been slaughtered. This story has been in the news here for the last few weeks. Timeline

I didn't realise at first that Shambo was living within a herd of 50 animals when his TB test was positive. I think after the foot and mouth and BSE incidents over the past ten years or so in the UK, the attitude is 'shoot first, ask questions later'.

Whether or not Shambo should have been slaughtered is not something I can answer, but I have to say that I laughed my ass off at a cartoon in yesterday's paper. It showed a customer at McDonald's looking at the menu. Next to 'Happy Meal' they had 'Sad Meal'. "It's a Shambo burger" says the server.

But I'm glad to see that someone has a bit of sensible perspective on the issue.

Akhandadhi Das, a Vaishnava Hindu theologian living near Brecon, said he thought it was "a red herring" to portray the Shambo case as a religious issue and that every farmer and smallholder should have the option of treating animals.

"Those who actually want to care for animals should be able to look after and protect those animals rather than simply kill them on the basis of a TB test," he said.

Anyway, a precedent has now been set, so Andrew Speaker had better be very afraid.