Overview
- The reverse sides will drop portraits of Winston Churchill, Jane Austen, J.M.W. Turner and Alan Turing in favor of British wildlife, while King Charles III remains on the front.
- Chief Cashier Victoria Cleland said wildlife imagery works better with complex visual patterns required for new security features.
- A panel of wildlife experts will produce a shortlist for a second public consultation planned for summer 2026 after about 60% of 44,000 respondents backed a nature theme last year.
- Political figures across parties condemned the plan, including Kemi Badenoch, Ed Davey and Nigel Farage, who variously accused the Bank of erasing history or pursuing a politically correct agenda.
- The Bank expects issuance to take several years and notes cash is still the preferred payment method for roughly 15% of people.