Bank of England replaces historical figures with wildlife on banknotes.

Bank of England replaces historical figures with wildlife on banknotes. The central bank announced Wednesday that native British animals will appear on new £5, £10, £20, and £50 notes, replacing images of Churchill, Austen, Turner, and Turing. Officials framed the decision as an anti-counterfeiting measure. Political backlash has been swift, with Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch calling it silly and Reform's Nigel Farage criticizing the move. However, public opinion appears divided. A YouGov poll showed roughly one-third of voters across major parties support nature imagery on currency. Notably, Churchill's granddaughter expressed openness to the change, suggesting a brave animal would be fitting. The Bank will conduct further consultation before selecting specific species for the redesigned notes.