The Daily Politics - 26/10/2009

Andrew Neil and Anita Anand look at the top political stories of the day. The Royal Mail's management and the Communication Workers Union are holding talks in an effort to head off further national strikes. However, the postal workers may just be the tip of the iceberg. Bus drivers working for First Group are striking over pay, and council refuse workers in Leeds have been striking since the beginning of September in a dispute over pay and conditions. Elsewhere, there is the possibility of further strikes across the rail, bus and airline industries. Is Gordon Brown facing his very own winter of discontent? MPs are threatening their own form of industrial action over the expenses furore. With Sir Christopher Kelly due to unveil his recommendations for a clean up of the expenses regime in the House of Commons, The Daily Politics looks at the case for the defence for MPs, with veteran Labour MP Austin Mitchell. One of the reforms Kelly is expected to announce is an end to MPs' wives working for them. We will be talking to one MP's wife about working for her husband. Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, has outlined emergency measures to stop high street banks paying cash bonuses. Andrew and Anita discuss that and more with former independent MP and journalist, Martin Bell.