Prospect to set up political fund

A new political fund is to be created by civil service union Prospect after a narrow vote in favour by its members.

The 105,000-strong union voted by 21,537 to 21,403 in favour of establishing a fund "to guard against a potential legal challenge to the union's campaigning activities". Turnout was 41%.

The union put the large "no" vote down to the fact that neither the union nor its predecessor unions - the IPMS and EMA - had faced a legal challenge.

General secretary Paul Noon said: "Prospect is a politically neutral union and will use the fund to protect our campaign activities".