Banknotes, beavers and a very British backlash

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Kevin PeacheyCost of living correspondent

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Could a beaver replace Sir Winston Churchill on the £5 note?

The Bank of England has told the BBC it is reflecting the wishes of the public by substituting Sir Winston Churchill and Jane Austen with British wildlife on its next series of banknotes.

Political leaders have lined up to berate the Bank for the decision. Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said it was “a silly thing to do”. Reform’s Nigel Farage called it “absolutely crackers”.

But the Bank said this was primarily an anti-counterfeiting move, which is why Churchill, like other historical characters, would eventually have to be replaced on banknotes.

Now the RSPCA has stepped into the debate, making the case for pigeons, rats and gulls to be represented on the currency’s new designs.

On Wednesday, the Bank of England said that, following public consultation, native British wildlife would be depicted on its next set of £5, £10, £20 and £50 notes.

They will replace images of historical characters who, starting with William Shakespeare, have appeared on the reverse side of its banknotes since 1970.

On notes circulating currently, in ascending order of value, are former Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill, author Jane Austen, artist JMW Turner and mathematician and wartime codebreaker Alan Turing.

But it was the removal of wartime leader Churchill that particularly irked politicians.

“They propose we replace people like him with a picture of a beaver,” said Farage, although, in fact, no specific animals have yet been chosen.

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A shortlist of animals will be chosen before further public consultation

Badenoch said: "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.”

And Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said: “I can’t think of a worse time to do this with a war waging in Europe.”

One poll suggests he may be at odds with his party’s voters. A YouGov poll of more than 5,000 people last July suggested 34% of Lib Dems wanted nature on notes, compared with 19% wanting notable British historical figures.

It was close among Conservative and Reform supporters. Some 30% of Tories and Reform voters wanted historical figures, compared with 26% for the Conservatives and 25% for Reform favouring nature.

Churchill’s granddaughter happy with his picture being replaced on the £5 note

Churchill’s own granddaughter, Emma Soames, told the BBC she never thought the image of her grandfather on the fiver “was going to go on forever”.

When asked how she would feel if he were replaced by a badger, she said: “Well, lucky badger or lucky grandpapa”, adding that a suitable substitute should be a very brave and courageous animal.

Rats and pigeons would fall into that category, according to the RSPCA.

“Rats have been trained to detect disease and locate landmines, while pigeons played key roles in both world wars, carrying messages - and we think that’s worth celebrating,” said Geoff Edmond, wildlife expert at the animal charity.

He also made the case for other intelligent and “under-appreciated” animals, such as foxes and gulls to feature on the new series of banknotes.

Stopping the fakes

Gulls managed to interrupt the BBC’s interview with the Bank of England’s chief cashier, Victoria Cleland, whose signature appears on its banknotes.

Whether or not they were lobbying for inclusion, Cleland did acknowledge that feathers could be ruffled by the Bank’s decision.

“People will have views on whatever goes on banknotes,” she said. “That’s why we think it is really important to consult with the public.”

Nature was the most popular theme in the 44,000 responses to a public consultation and focus groups on banknote imagery.

Some 60% of respondents selected it as one of their preferred themes, ahead of architecture and landmarks (56%); historical figures (38%); arts, culture and sport (30%); innovation (23%); and noteworthy milestones (19%), the Bank said.

Following the backlash from political party leaders, the Bank said it was proud that historical figures had been on its notes for more than 50 years. However, nature including wildlife was the most popular choice of respondents.

“Importantly, wildlife imagery as a theme provides many unique opportunities to explore the latest anti-counterfeiting and security features, for example moving elements such as a bird flapping its wings or a deer running,” a spokesman told the BBC.

Wildlife already appears on banknotes in the UK, with mackerel, otters, red squirrels and osprey featuring on notes issued by the Royal Bank of Scotland.

Social media frenzy

The Bank may have hoped for a calmer response to its decision following the, often divisive, choices of historical figures over recent decades.

It found itself in the firing line owing to the absence of any women, apart from Queen Elizabeth II on notes in 2013. There has never been a historical figure who is black or from an ethnic minority background on the Bank’s notes.

Its decision to choose wildlife may have stirred the politicians, but it has also led to many people having fun with the topic on social media.

Aldi

Aldi’s social media team have seized on the Bank’s announcement

Aldi UK has made the case for its Cuthbert the Caterpillar cake to appear on banknotes, even mocking up a job application to the Bank of England.

As yet, the Bank has not specifically ruled out baked goods representing wildlife featuring in its deliberations.

However, it has confirmed that household pets would not be permitted.

A panel of experts will draw up a wildlife shortlist to put before the public this summer. The final decision is made by the Bank’s governor but it is likely to be a few years before the new notes enter circulation.

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