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Black and ethnic minority people could feature on British money for first time under plan for coins featuring historical figures including Gurkha heroes and wartime nurse
- Chancellor Rishi Sunak considering plans Treasury minister tells the Telegraph
- British-Jamaican Crimean War nurse Mary Seacole one name being considered
- Plans have been submitted to Royal Mint by The Bank Notes of Colour campaign
Black and ethnic minority figures are set to feature on British currency for the first time, with Gurkha heroes and a wartime nurse among those being considered, it has been revealed today.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak is considering proposals by campaigners to have influential BAME people featured on a set of coins, Treasury minister John Glen told The Sunday Telegraph.
British-Jamaican Crimean War nurse Mary Seacole, and Noor Inayat Khan, a World War II agent and one of only four women have received the prestigious George Cross, are both under consideration, according to reports.
The first Indian and Gurkha soldiers who received the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award of the British honours system, are also under consideration, the Telegraph reports.
Black and ethnic minority figures are set to feature on British currency for the first time, with Gurkha heroes and a wartime nurse set to be considered, it has been revealed today
British-Jamaican Crimean War nurse Mary Seacole (right), and Noor Inayat Khan (left), a World War II agent and one of only four women have received the prestigious George Cross, are both under consideration, according to reports.
Plans have been submitted to the Royal Mint, which has been encouraged by the Treasury to draft proposals and designs for potential coins.
Mr Glen told the paper Mr Sunak was ‘keen to support’ the ‘timely proposal’.
‘The Chancellor is aware of this. We are obviously supportive and keen to be positive about it, we need to see some firm proposals from the Royal Mint but we are keen for this to happen,’ Mr Glen said.
No non-white person has ever featured on British coins or notes.
Currently on Britain’s new polymer bank notes, Second World War Prime Minister Winston Churchill features on the £5 note, novelist Jane Austen was chosen to appear on the plastic £10 note after a campaign and artist JMW Turner features on the £20 notes.
Plans have been submitted to the Royal Mint and are being considered by Chancellor Rishi Sunak (pictured)
Currently on Britain’s new polymer bank notes, Second World War Prime Minister Winston Churchill features on the £5 note (pictured), novelist Jane Austen was chosen to appear on the plastic £10 note after a campaign and artist JMW Turner features on the £20 notes
Computer pioneer and codebreaker Alan Turing will feature on the new design of the Bank of England’s £50 note, which are set to enter circulation by the end of 2021.
Others to have previously featured on notes include the pioneer of modern nursing, Florence Nightingale, playwright William Shakespeare and naturalist Charles Darwin.
On coins, author Beatrix Potter, legendary civil engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel and First World War nurse Edith Cavell have all previously featured.
The Banknotes of Colour campaign, led by Zehra Zaidi – a former Conservative Party parliamentary candidate – has been fighting for representation.
Mr Sunak has previously expressed support for the anti-racist cause highlighted by the Black Lives Matter protests, and supported calls for widespread changes in attitudes.
He said: ‘As a British Asian of course I know that racism exists in this country. And I know people are angry and frustrated. They want to see, and feel, change.’
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