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Churchill to be axed from British banknotes in the name of diversity.

(249 Posts)
Sago Sat 06-Jun-26 07:17:06

Figures such as Jane Austen and Winston Churchill are to be axed from our banknotes as they are apparently elitist and divisive and not fitting with our natural and cultural diversity.

It is decisions this that push people towards Reform and Restore.

When is all this nonsense going to stop?

Doodledog Sat 06-Jun-26 11:36:28

MT62

I don’t care what they depict on a bank note just as long as I can spend my cash as I see fit!

Me too.

I can't understand some poor flowers being triggered or traumatised by hedgehogs or badgers.

I assume it's time for a revamp, which they do every so often. There are numerous people who might have a claim to be depicted on a banknote, but there are only four types of note in circulation (I think - £5, £10, £20 and £50?) so the same faces can't hog them forever.

It's not discarding anyone, or deleting people from history - how can anyone jump to that conclusion? It's just replacing face on banknotes with something different. In our divided society, when everyone seems to be looking for something to be outraged about, maybe wildlife is a better option than public figures who might upset someone.

Chestnut Sat 06-Jun-26 11:30:57

Maremia

If they decide to do 'insects' next time, I would vote for butterflies and ladybirds. 🦋

They have bumble bee, dragonfly and butterfly. I agree ladybirds should be there because I like the colourful pretty ones. 😍

Basgetti Sat 06-Jun-26 11:29:28

What’s wildlife to do with “diversity”? Other than diversity of life on earth, of course. This planet doesn’t belong to humans.

But I imagine that’s not what you meant, OP?

I think they’ll be lovely.

Chestnut Sat 06-Jun-26 11:27:34

I was really upset they have not included the red squirrel for voting. Surely the loveliest and most iconic British mammal? They are Britain's only native squirrel species and have lived here for around 10,000 years. I adore them. How could they leave them out? 😢

Maremia Sat 06-Jun-26 11:16:28

Luckygirl, another good post from you.

Maremia Sat 06-Jun-26 11:13:25

If they decide to do 'insects' next time, I would vote for butterflies and ladybirds. 🦋

MT62 Sat 06-Jun-26 11:07:04

I don’t care what they depict on a bank note just as long as I can spend my cash as I see fit!

Chestnut Sat 06-Jun-26 11:06:17

Mamie

Oreo

Mamie

Grantanow

I guess they won't be featuring the Dodo given the present state of the UK.

I voted for the European hedgehog as I thought there would be some who wouldn't on principle. 😂🦔

Sadly our British hedgehogs are becoming rarer, due no doubt to building over any bit of green land that developers can get their hands on.
You could fly some over to us, but you may keep your 🐌

Oh dear. The European Hedgehog is the only species native to the UK. (I checked the facts before I posted).
I live in the UK and am delighted to be able to vote for my chosen wildlife.

I was confused by this so googled it to find that the European hedgehog and the British hedgehog are one and the same thing. In other words there is no British hedgehog! 😁

Chocolatelovinggran Sat 06-Jun-26 10:53:53

Sago, I have read on the internet about
how " Bank Officials were advised..." but can find no credible source for this. Are you able to direct me to where I might find who advised this, and when?
My understanding is that a poll was taken, and the people's choice was flora and fauna.
I love Elizabeth Fry, a remarkable woman, who was removed on banknotes for Winston Churchill.

Oreo Sat 06-Jun-26 10:53:35

I think that it’s a good thing to honour British people in this way rather than wildlife tbh but each to their own.
It’s the reasoning behind the research and the adherence to it that’s jarring.

Maremia Sat 06-Jun-26 10:49:15

Twenty years ago it was someone else.
Why are you bothered this time round?

Maremia Sat 06-Jun-26 10:47:37

How many of you know without looking if, just now, you have a Churchill note in your purse?
Are you bothered?

merlotgran Sat 06-Jun-26 10:37:29

theworriedwell

Does anyone spend time admiring Churchill on a banknote?

I was at a quiz the other day where one of the questions was matching faces to bank notes.

I got them all wrong! 😂

LemonJam Sat 06-Jun-26 10:36:59

Cossy

Luckygirl3

Titling a post with the issue of diversity only is just stirring up discord unnecessarily - in reality a survey was done and wildlife came out on top. That is fine.

🫶🫶 👏👏👏👏👏👏

The calm voice of reason - Luckygirl13.

Oreo Sat 06-Jun-26 10:34:51

It’s a peculiarly English thing eazybee apologies for everything 😄 even when someone barges into us we say sorry.

eazybee Sat 06-Jun-26 10:30:34

I have read many of the reasons for discarding historic achievers, and evenBritish buildings and landmarks.
The conclusion I draw is that the contributors feel we should be ashamed of our past.

I do not agree.

Oreo Sat 06-Jun-26 10:27:35

Sorry, thought you were living in France, must be mixing you up with another poster.

Oreo Sat 06-Jun-26 10:26:37

That’s ok Mamie we don’t mind having a few French ones sent over as am sure you have more than we do.

Oreo Sat 06-Jun-26 10:25:19

But I guess that badgers and squirrels take precedence these days.

Oreo Sat 06-Jun-26 10:24:47

I would like to see women more celebrated on banknotes to counteract the rising tide of misogyny.
Authors, poets, musicians and many more.

Mamie Sat 06-Jun-26 10:23:58

Oreo

Mamie

Grantanow

I guess they won't be featuring the Dodo given the present state of the UK.

I voted for the European hedgehog as I thought there would be some who wouldn't on principle. 😂🦔

Sadly our British hedgehogs are becoming rarer, due no doubt to building over any bit of green land that developers can get their hands on.
You could fly some over to us, but you may keep your 🐌

Oh dear. The European Hedgehog is the only species native to the UK. (I checked the facts before I posted).
I live in the UK and am delighted to be able to vote for my chosen wildlife.

Oreo Sat 06-Jun-26 10:22:42

You’re forgetting Sago that some poor flowers may be triggered or traumatised by Churchill or Jane Austen😂

Sago Sat 06-Jun-26 10:15:02

Luckygirl3

Titling a post with the issue of diversity only is just stirring up discord unnecessarily - in reality a survey was done and wildlife came out on top. That is fine.

The Bank of England officials were advised that historical figures represented a backward looking vision of the UK that carries too great a risk of division and controversy.

Today is the 82nd anniversary of D-Day without the likes of Winston Churchill and the many thousands of men and women that fought for Great Britain we would probably have Swastikas in our banknotes.

I would like our historical figures to remain on our currency.

Oreo Sat 06-Jun-26 10:10:09

MawsRosie

Meant to add these in case the thread police think I’m being contentious gringringrin

👮‍♂️👮‍♂️👮‍♂️👮‍♂️

Ilovecheese Sat 06-Jun-26 10:09:58

I don't know why some news outlets want to stir people up like this. It will be lovely to see wildlife on banknotes, why tryto present it as a bad thing?