Pierrepoint is the more fascinating of the two. He regarded himself as a tradesman, and took pride in being good at his job. If I was going to be hanged I'd want Pierrepoint on the job. Years ago the hangman's nickname was William Boilman, from when poisoners used to get boiled to death.
Further proof as if it were needed that England are heading for a footballing embarrassment at the World Cup. Clueless yes man Southgate is planning to call up 34 year old Glenn Murray for England That will really strike terror into the hearts of Spain & Argentina.
Events on the streets of Salisbury another triumph for multiculturalism & the EU. Let in who we like, let visit who we like, no matter what their serious crimes were & their criminal affiliations in barbarous 3rd world Eastern Europe. It’s a price worth paying so long as our liberal elite can carry on enjoying those lovely Latvian au pairs and brasses and those nice cash in hand Polish plumbers. Certain politicians predicted this sort of thing would happen back in the late 80s.
I’d love to know how being out of the European Union would stop a Russian agent assassinating somebody here?
You probably know anyway, but taking back control of our borders after March 2019 will mean we can actually get a grasp on who is coming in and why. One obvious example - with the border between Russia and Poland being little more than a line on a map which Putin can move with a click of his finger, many “Russians” (in reality Poles with Russian links) will be unable to travel here with impunity any longer. The wider point about the EU is that some of us predicted after the balkanisation of the old Soviet Union that the EU would be unable to cope with the inevitable consequences, and so if has proved. Within 50 years the likes of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary and maybe even Czech where they have a pro- Russia President, will be back in Russia’s hands. No bad thing. The West and more importantly England has absolutely zero in common with these people.
Misha Glenny, who knows a thing or two about these things, doesn't think it was even a political murder, more to do with money, and the shady characters the dead man must have been involved with. He reckons Russia takes no interest in swopped spies once they've been off-loaded. I'm more inclined to listen to him than Boris.
I hear now that Boris was misunderstood as implying British football teams might not go to the World Cup if a link with Russia is found concerning these poisonings. Apparently he meant British 'dignitaries' might not attend. That'll put the wind up Putin. A bunch of crusty old stuffed shirts from the FA plus various liggers & hangers-on sacrificing their freebie trip to Russia. A result for the British tax-payer (whoever he is ... or is there still more than one?)
For any Remoaners or the intellectually curious, Mr Glenny’s book “McMafia” sets out in fascinating detail how the KGB and Oligarchs looted the Soviet Union under Yeltsin, and a lawless Wild West state has developed as a consequence with huge impacts in the civilised West. (Salisbury being the latest example) Glenny also sets out in fascinating detail the brutal 200 year pls rivalries between Russians and Bulgarians, Croats and Serbs, Bosnian Muslims and Czech crime lords etc. You finish the book with the inescapable conclusion that we have nothing in common with these barbarians and we are best letting them get on with what the enjoy most - brutalising each other. We certainly don’t want them here. I would expel every single Oligarch in this country - they are nothing more than looters and thieves.
The Death of Stalin was very good too. I was the only one laughing at some of the jokes. Russian history is very interesting and brutal, so is British history. There is quite a difference between what is taught in English and Scottish schools. I hope I live to see the day when Putin's finances are out in the open, but fear it won't happen for a long time. Like Stalin, he controls the media. It's a bit depressing how many people here and in America admire Putin as a strong leader. I'll keep you posted. The effects of Brexit may be clearer by the time I've read it.
Also a coach at our academy apparently. He mentions it in his twitter bio too, though I never saw it mentioned by the club anywhere.