The Bank of England is preparing to overhaul its banknotes, marking the first major change since 1970. The new series will retain a portrait of the King and images representing the home nations, but the back of the notes will no longer feature historical figures. This decision has sparked mixed reactions, with some politicians expressing disappointment, particularly over the potential removal of former Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill from the £5 note.
The Bank of England defends the change, emphasizing the need to update banknotes periodically to combat counterfeiting. However, the process of designing, testing, and printing the new notes is lengthy, meaning changes are unlikely to appear soon. The redesign follows a trend already seen in other parts of the UK, where wildlife such as red squirrels, mackerel, and otters have been featured on banknotes issued by the Bank of Scotland.