Vogue chief Anna Wintour wants next PM to be more like the French over fashion

The editor-in-chief of Vogue, Anna Wintour, has urged the next prime minister to see fashion more like it is regarded in France - and acknowledge the importance of the industry to the British economy.

- Chloe Mac Donnell

Speaking as she finalised plans for Vogue World, the third instalment of an entertainment extravaganza in Paris this month, she said: "I have not read what I assume will be the next prime minister's stand on the arts but hopefully he can be convinced to support not only arts organisations but also fashion in this country, which is such an important part of the economy."

While the French president, Emmanuel Macron, regularly hosts events for designers at the Élysée Palace, acknowledging the importance of the industry as France's top export sector, Wintour believes that the fashion industry continues to be misunderstood in the UK, despite contributing more than £60bn to GDP.

"Over the years I have seen prime ministers host events at Downing Street and say a lot of the right things, but I'm not sure how knowledgeable they are about how many jobs the fashion industry creates in this country or how important it is to the city in so many different ways.