Bank of England proposes wildlife-themed redesign of banknotes
A £5 banknote featuring a portrait of Winston Churchill (photo: Getty Images)
The Bank of England has launched a nationwide vote on new designs for pound sterling banknotes. Native wildlife could replace prominent historical figures on future notes, Politico reports.
Britons have been invited to choose the future of the national currency. The public has one month to decide on new symbols for the £5, £10, £20, and £50 banknotes. The main idea is to replace portraits of people with images of animals.
The shortlist includes 18 species of mammals, birds, insects, and fish. Wildlife experts selected only species that are considered native to the United Kingdom.
The main contenders to appear in Britons' wallets are:
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The Atlantic puffin with its colorful beak;
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The red fox and pine marten;
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The kingfisher and white-tailed eagle;
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The common frog and a butterfly;
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The bumblebee and basking shark.
"Only the animals on the shortlist published today can feature as the central images on the new series," the Bank of England said.
Political controversy and criticism over Churchill
The initiative has already sparked a wave of criticism. The biggest controversy surrounds the £5 banknote, which currently features wartime Prime Minister Winston Churchill. The prospect of replacing him with a beaver or a frog has angered the conservative segment of society.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage strongly criticized the bank's plans. He accused the institution of excessive liberalism and disregard for history. The politician believes that replacing a wartime hero with a rodent is unacceptable.
In addition to Churchill, other figures could also disappear from circulation:
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Novelist Jane Austen (£10);
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Painter J. M. W. Turner (£20);
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Mathematician Alan Turing (£50).
Their portraits are expected to be gradually removed, while their names will be left to history textbooks.
How the winners will be chosen
The selection process will continue until July 3. Each citizen can vote for up to two animals in each of the three categories, thereby reducing the list to four leading contenders.
However, the public vote will not be final. The last word belongs to Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey. He must ensure that each new banknote is visually distinct from the others.
Interestingly, domestic animals were not included on the list. The British bulldog, popular among Churchill's supporters, is also ineligible.
The Bank of England is looking exclusively for wild species that symbolize the nature of the British Isles. Since there are no reptiles on the shortlist, the common frog is considered the favorite among amphibians.
