The Bank of England has confirmed that a puffin, barn owl, bumblebee and hedgehog will replace historic figures on its banknotes. The final four were chosen after nearly 500,000 people took part in a public consultation over the summer.
The move means former Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill (£5), author Jane Austen (£10), artist JMW Turner (£20), and mathematician and wartime codebreaker Alan Turing (£50) will disappear from the notes when they are next redesigned.
Political criticism over Churchill removal
Doing away with wartime leader Churchill has proven controversial, stoking particular anger among some politicians. Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said earlier that “removing Churchill from banknotes is erasing our history. Changing the pictures to put wild animals on them is a silly thing to do. I absolutely do not support it.” Reform UK leader Nigel Farage called it “absolutely crackers” at the time.
The Bank of England had published a shortlist of 18 options across three categories – mammals; birds; and amphibians, insects and fish – to appear on the £5, £10, £20, and £50 notes when they were next redesigned.
Record response to consultation
The consultation ran for a month, until July 3, and received a record 478,531 responses. The final four chosen include the barn owl, buff-tailed bumblebee, and the European hedgehog. The Atlantic puffin was also selected because, the Bank said, it was the most popular marine animal, beating the likes of the bottlenose dolphin, grey seal and basking shark.
Other animals that failed to make the final cut include the red fox, brown hare, common kingfisher, and great spotted woodpecker. There is still hope for them, as the Bank said the final notes will also feature “other elements from nature to complete the designs, potentially including other shortlisted animals”.
Design and security details
King Charles need not worry, however, as the next series will continue to include a portrait of the monarch. The decision on which animal will appear on what banknote will be made in “due course”, with any new design not expected to enter circulation for a few years yet.
Victoria Cleland, Bank of England chief cashier, said: “We have chosen four distinct and inspiring animals that not only showcase the great variety of wildlife we have in the UK but will also enhance the security of our banknotes.”
Rhys Phillips, the Bank’s incoming chief cashier, who will be responsible for delivering the new series of notes, said: “It’s fantastic to see how engaged the public have been in this choice. With these animals as the focus for the design we can deliver a new series of banknotes that are secure and represent the UK at its best. We’ll now work to design, test and produce the banknotes, combining the imagery we’ve announced today with cutting-edge security features and materials science.”
