The rise and fall of Umberto Bossi

David Willey reflects on the rise and fall of the Italian politician Umberto Bossi. Pascale Harter presents.

The reputation of a political stalwart has come tumbling down.

Umberto Bossi has been a powerful figure in the country, leading the Northern League party that propped up Silvio Berlusconi's government for years.

But now Mr Bossi has been forced to resign as party leader amid allegations that Italian tax payers' money found its way into his private accounts.