Amicus "yes" for political fund

Members of the giant Amicus general union have voted to retain their political fund, in a campaign where references to the union's affiliation to the Labour Party were noticeable by their absence.

The union welcomed the 72% to 28% "yes" vote but suggested that the requirement to keep re-balloting every 10 years should be ended. "The ballot review process itself is costly, time consuming and unnecessary when members who do not wish to contribute can choose to opt out," it said.

Amicus has written to the secretary of state to ask for the costs of the ballot to be reimbursed as they were under the Thatcher government.