Wildlife to replace historical figures on banknotes
BBC News1 day
UK Banknotes to Feature Wildlife Over Historical Figures
Does wildlife on banknotes fittingly celebrate Britain's natural heritage or cowardly erase its proud historical achievements?
Above: Bank of England governor Mark Carney holds the new five pound note in London, U.K., on Sept. 13, 2016. Image credit: Stefan Wermuth/WPA Pool/Getty Images
The Spin
Left narrative
Replacing historical figures with native wildlife on banknotes is a powerful and overdue recognition of Britain's natural heritage. This shift puts biodiversity into everyone's hands while strengthening counterfeit protection through nature imagery that lends itself to new security features. The overwhelming public support — with 60% choosing nature — demonstrates how deeply people value British wildlife and want currency that celebrates the ecosystems binding the nation's landscapes and future together.
Right narrative
Removing Winston Churchill and other great Britons from banknotes in favor of animals represents a cowardly retreat from celebrating the nation's actual achievements. Churchill saved Britain from the Nazis, yet he's being replaced by hedgehogs and otters because historical figures require defending while animals are safe abstractions that offend nobody. Every country has wildlife, but not every country has Churchill, Shakespeare, Newton or Nightingale — this decision makes Britain less British, not more.
Metaculus Prediction
The Controversies
Go Deeper
Political split
LEFT
RIGHT
© 2026 Improve the News Foundation. All rights reserved.Version 6.18.0
© 2026 Improve the News Foundation.
All rights reserved.
Version 6.18.0