In 1990, the Daily Mirror and The Cook Report alleged financial misconduct by Arthur Scargill, president of the National Union of Mineworkers, during the 1984-85 miners' strike. Their key witness was former NUM chief executive Roger Windsor. In 1991, reporter Lorraine Heggessey reveals flaws in their allegations and Windsor's testimony.

Allegations that Scargill paid his mortgage with miners' hardship funds were dismissed by the Lightman Inquiry. Scargill presents documents proving he had already paid his mortgage.

Allegations about the payment of Libyan money are disputed. Scargill's meeting with a Libyan middleman differs from that reported. Windsor met Gaddafi in Libya, though his claim that it was pre-arranged is disputed. British intelligence must have been aware of Libyan money coming through Heathrow, given investigations into IRA funding. Scargill was attacked for Libyan connections after Yvonne Fletcher's killing, but the government doubled Libyan imports, particularly oil to break the strike.

Heggessey doorsteps Mirror reporter Terry Pattinson, noting factual inconsistencies and asking why Pattinson didn't disclose payments to witnesses or discover Scargill had no mortgage. Pattinson stands by the story and says Scargill hasn't sued.

Allegations of faked documents are scrutinised. A forensic expert contradicts Windsor's claims of faked signatures. Allegations that £1 million, donated by Russian miners, had gone missing are challenged by banker testimony. Unlike the Mirror and Cook Report, Heggessey investigates by visiting the Soviet Union. Interviewees indicate that Scargill could not influence payments, and that Soviet policy changed after Margaret Thatcher asked Mikhail Gorbachev not to help striking British miners.

The secrecy required to facilitate NUM loans after their accounts were sequestrated has been used against Scargill. NUM interviewees discuss the motives of those discrediting Scargill and the strike, among whom may be rightwingers in the trade union movement and the Labour Party. They note Scargill's opposition to privatisation and his role should the NUM merge with the Transport and General Workers' Union.

Roger Cook's methods are critiqued, including doorstepping. Heggessey and Capstick doorstep Cook at his hotel. Heggessey asks why Cook did not discover that Scargill had no mortgage. Cook refuses to be interviewed. A Cook Report cameraman alleges witnessing fabrication. Heggessey asks Cook about fabrication. Cook warns about libel.

Neither Cook nor his team answer questions or produce evidence regarding Scargill's mortgage, paid witnesses, Russian money or the role of intelligence services. Scargill believes that his commitment means that smear stories will continue.