TORONTO – In his new post as the governor of the Bank of England, Mark Carney has a tough decision to make: will Jane Austen replace Charles Darwin on the £10 banknote?
It may not sound so difficult a decision for someone described by Bank of Canada spokesman Jeremy Harrison as having a hand in Canada’s “many important financial sector reforms in response to the (global financial) crisis,” but his predecessor’s decision to change the £5 note caused quite a stir in the U.K.
Outgoing governor of the Bank of England Sir Mervyn King’s April announcement that Elizabeth Fry would be replaced with Sir Winston Churchill sparked outrage from some who were angered at the thought that no women would be featured on U.K. bank notes (other than the Queen).
Caroline Criado-Perez even launched an online petition that’s garnered more than 29,000 signatures to “Keep a woman on English banknotes” and has reportedly launched a legal challenge under Equality Law, which requires government to shape policy with equality issues in mind.
But Sir Mervyn said Pride and Prejudice author Jane Austen was a reserve choice, and was in the lead to become the next bank note feature. Speaking at his final Treasury Committee appearance before passing the torch to Carney, Sir Mervyn said when the Churchill notes come out in 2015-16, Fry won’t just disappear.
“Well before then, the announcement of the next historical figure will be made…the figure we’ve been working with for two years is Jane Austen. This figure becomes a candidate for the £10 note down the road.”
If chosen, Austen would be the fourth woman to have her face on Britain’s banknotes, after the Queen, English prison reformer Fry, and celebrated nurse Florence Nightingale, who was previously on £10 notes.
While the Bank of England hasn’t decided when the £10 note will change, Carney starts July 1.
SOUND OFF: Who would you like to see on the £10 banknote? Share your comments below.
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