Dee Doocey urges Mayor to get tough on 'size zero' models at London Fashion Week

2.10.00pm GMT Thu 18th Feb 2010

Dee Doocey, the Liberal Democrat Culture Spokesperson on the London Assembly, has urged Mayor Boris Johnson to end public funding for London Fashion Week while it continues to use excessively thin models. She has now written to the Mayor, following numerous questions and representations she has made on the issue.

Commenting ahead of the start of London Fashion Week this Friday (19th February) and Eating Disorder Week (commencing 22nd February), Dee Doocey said:

"It is time the Mayor stopped ducking this issue. Just a cursory glance at London Fashion Week's website shows images of unhealthy-looking models. These ultra-thin models are not only a risk to their own health, but also glorify unrealistic ideas of body image and set a poor example to young women. This has contributed to the rise in eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia, which now affect one in forty women in Britain.

"Two years ago, Baroness Kingsmill's Model Health Inquiry made a series of recommendations to prevent the use of 'size zero' models at London Fashion Week. Other fashion capitals, notably Milan and Madrid, have already banished such unhealthy models from their catwalks. Yet the British Fashion Council refuses to act.

"The contract between the London Development Agency (LDA), which provides a public subsidy to London Fashion Week, and the British Fashion Council, states that funding can be withdrawn if any of Baroness Kingsmill's specific recommendations are not implemented.

"The Mayor controls the LDA and could withdraw this subsidy immediately. It is a scandal that he remains unwilling to implement fully the Model Health Inquiry recommendations. The Mayor is allowing taxpayer's money to be used as a tacit endorsement of the use of 'size zero' models.

"The Mayor must now address his statutory duty to protect the health of Londoners. The Mayor is failing in this duty when he allows a publicly-funded event to promote images of excessively thin models, which contributes to the growing incidence of anorexia among London's women."

ENDS