- The Bank of England plans to replace historical figures on banknotes with images of British wildlife in the next series.
- The final selection will be made by the Bank’s governor after a public consultation and expert review.
- The move has drawn criticism from some UK politicians who say removing historic figures erases daily reminders of Britain’s hist
The Bank of England will replace images of Winston Churchill, Jane Austen and William Shakespeare from the currently circulating notes with British wildlife. For India, as Prime Minister during WWII, Winston Churchill's policies and denial of food imports were directly linked to the 1943 Bengal Famine.
The shortlisted wildlife animals will be released to the public by a panel of experts, and the final decision rests with the Bank's governor. It will take a few years before the new notes enter circulation. Images of wildlife would be difficult to counterfeit, while also allowing for a celebration of nature across the country, the Bank said.
Prominent people of the UK, who have appeared on £5, £10, £20 and £50 notes, have been showcased on banknotes for more than 50 years.
Also Read: Winston Churchill To Be Removed From UK Banknotes In Cash Redesign
"Nature is a great choice from a banknote authentication perspective and means we can showcase the UK's rich and varied wildlife on the next series of banknotes," Victoria Cleland, the BoE's chief cashier, said, as per Reuters.
Opposition take on banknote move
East Surrey Tory MP Claire Coutinho took to X, posting that the UK is “losing” the small daily moments she said:
“This may seem like a small deal to some, but these reminders of our history bind us all together.
“Turner, Turing, Churchill, Austen. In the past, it's been Elgar, Darwin, Newton, Adam Smith.
“We are losing those small moments in our day to remember what makes this country great.”
This may seem like a small deal to some, but these reminders of our history bind us all together.
— Claire Coutinho (@ClaireCoutinho) March 11, 2026
Turner, Turing, Churchill, Austen. In the past it's been Elgar, Darwin, Newton, Adam Smith.
We are losing those small moments in our day to remember what makes this country great. pic.twitter.com/qQsOxBCLFC
Ed Davey, leader of the LibDems, expressed annoyance by posting a video on X: "I can't think of a worse time to do this – with a war waging in Europe, we should be celebrating Britain's defiance of the Nazis."
"Winston Churchill helped defeat fascism in Europe. He deserves better than being replaced by a badger."
Winston Churchill helped defeat fascism in Europe. He deserves better than being replaced by a badger 🦡 pic.twitter.com/D0ryOQYSTu
— Ed Davey (@EdwardJDavey) March 11, 2026
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