Bank of England axed 'elitist' Winston Churchill from banknotes after being told he was 'divisive'
The central bank says the new designs will improve counterfeit resilience as voters choose among shortlisted animals for four denominations.
- The Bank of England removed Winston Churchill, Alan Turing, and Jane Austen from banknotes after a study labeled these figures elitist and divisive and not representative of the UK's diversity.
- A Savanta study involving 119 participants found that most felt historical figures on currency were divisive, elitist, and disconnected from their experiences.
- The central bank justified the change as a security measure due to rising counterfeit threats and cited a public consultation where 60% preferred nature-themed banknotes over historical figures.
- Critics including Robert Jenrick and Richard Kemp condemned the removal, calling it a mistake and arguing that these figures are vital reminders of Britain's history and achievements.
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10 Articles
Churchill's portrait, the man whom, many historians reckon, the free world owes him an important part of the decision not to surrender to Hitler, will be replaced by the pound sterling. A study commissioned by the Bank of England concluded that personalities such as former British premier Winston Churchill, mathematician Alan Turing and writer Jane...
Bank of England axed 'elitist' Winston Churchill from banknotes after being told he was 'divisive'
The Bank of England decided to remove Winston Churchill, Alan Turing and Jane Austen from British banknotes after commissioned research concluded these historical figures were "elitist and divisive," newly obtained documents reveal.A market research study conducted by Savanta in October 2025 advised central bank officials that such portraits presented "a backward-looking vision of the UK that carries too great a risk of division and controversy"…
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