MAYOR AND SPONSORS SHOULD WITHDRAW FUNDING FROM LONDON FASHION WEEK

11.30.02am GMT Thu 25th Jan 2007

Liberal Democrat Culture Spokesperson on the London Assembly, Dee Doocey, has slammed today's announcement by the British Fashion Council to refuse to ban the use of models whose Body Mass Index (BMI) is less than 18 in London Fashion Week.

Dee Doocey is currently meeting with representatives of model agencies and fashion magazines to discuss the wider problem of seriously underweight models.

Dee Doocey, said:

"The British Fashion Council is putting profits ahead of women's health.

'I am appalled that after a month of statements of 'concern' about skinny models issued by the head of the British Fashion Council, that they have agreed to take no action.

'Vowing to use 'healthy' models is meaningless and pure tokenism. The British Fashion Council had the opportunity to make a real difference to the healthy of impressionable young girls by following the examples of Madrid and Milan. Today they have given the British fashion industry a bad name with this cowardly and irresponsible decision.

'Money talks and it seems quite clear that the only way we are going to see any action on this front is if the purse strings for London Fashion Week are pulled. If Milan can do it why can't London?

'The Mayor has a statuary duty to protect the health of Londoners. He must take the lead and immediately withdraw his funding of London Fashion Week and encourage other sponsors to do the same."