The Bank of England is set to remove prominent historical figures from future banknotes after deciding to replace portraits with wildlife imagery, according to a report by The Telegraph (UK).
The change follows the central bank’s March announcement that upcoming note designs would focus on British wildlife after public consultations found nature-themed concepts were the most popular option.
The newspaper reported that the decision was influenced by research commissioned from market research firm Savanta. The study allegedly found that figures currently featured on banknotes, including wartime leader Winston Churchill, codebreaker Alan Turing and novelist Jane Austen, were viewed by some participants as divisive, elitist and insufficiently representative of modern Britain’s cultural diversity.
According to the report, Savanta recommended moving away from portraits of historical figures, arguing they reflected a backward-looking image of the country and could be associated with imperialism. The research also suggested that some historic buildings could be controversial due to perceived links to colonialism and slavery, while even certain national symbols were considered potentially sensitive.
The move has drawn criticism from several politicians. Reform UK Treasury spokesman Robert Jenrick labelled the proposal “nonsense,” while Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage and Shadow Communities Secretary Kevin Hollinrake reportedly condemned the decision as an example of “wokery” and an attempt to remove elements of British history from public life.
Historical figures have appeared on Bank of England notes for more than 50 years, beginning with William Shakespeare in 1970. The Bank has said the public will help choose the wildlife featured on the next generation of banknotes, with possibilities including foxes, dolphins and frogs.
Image credit: Christopher Bill
