MP condemns 'fashion fascistas'

MPs said the fashion industry was misleading women

A senior Conservative has attacked what he called "fashion fascistas" for driving women to become "size zero".

Deputy Tory party chairman Alistair Burt said the fashion industry was trying to "force women into a box" in terms of how they should appear.

Independent MP Andrew Pelling added that waif-like models pressured young girls "to believe they are fat... when that can hardly be the case".

The MPs were speaking in a debate on obesity in the Commons.

Mr Burt, a former minister, said: "I think the determination to see women driven to a particular size because somehow this is meant to make them more attractive to the world at large and also to blokes is, in my view, misplaced.

"We love women of all different shapes and sizes.

"We love them not because of how they look or how they dress, but because of who they are and their spirit and their style and their humour and everything about them."

'Real people'

The father-of-two said that we don't need "an industry to force women into a box".

He added: "The fashion fascistas have got to be lectured on every possible occasion by those who say: 'Don't do it for us, because we are not interested'."

Mr Pelling said that "size zero models do put a pressure on many young girls and young ladies to believe that they are fat or big when that can hardly be the case."

Mr Pelling said he was due to judge a local beauty contest which was about "real people".

He added: "What is good news about that particular contest is that this is about the style, poise, intelligence and attitude of real people.

"And I know who the finalists are, they are between sizes 8 and 12.

"It is good to see that people recognise that there is beauty to be found in young people... in all sizes."