Railroading MPs

Why has the rail union cast John Prescott adrift?

Another two Labour MP's have announced that they will quit the rail union - the RMT - as John Prescott accuses the union of being close to exercising improper influence over MP's. We unpick the claim and counter claim in an increasingly bitter row that could threaten the whole relationship between Labour and the unions.

Senior Labour MP, Tony Wright, chairman of the Public Administration Committee, accuses the union of trying to suborn Parliament by imposing its own demands in return for cash - a sort of echo of the cash for questions scandal which dogged the Conservatives in office.

We asked Bob Crow, the General Secretary of the RMT, to answer these criticisms.

WorldCom - could it happen here?

The auditors are being blamed for not spotting the financial skulduggery at Enron and Worldcom. Richard Miron reports on the mood at the New York Stock Exchange.

But are British chartered accountants any cleaner or more competent? Could it happen here? We ask the President of the accountants' professional body in this country.