A cross-party group of MPs have backed a campaign for Mary Seacole to become the first black person featured on the new £50 note.

The Bank of England recently announced that the “more secure” polymer currency will be rolled out in 2020.

Amid speculation surrounding who will feature on the £50, Labour MP Wes Streeting suggested the pioneering British-Jamaican nurse.

On Wednesday Streeting, MP for Ilford North in Essex, announced on Twitter that he had written to Bank of England’s governor Mark Carney. 

He tweeted: “As #BHM draws to a close, a cross-party group of MPs have written to @bankofengland Governor Mark Carney urging him to put Mary Seacole on the new £50 note.”

The letter has been signed by dozens of other MPs.

Trevor Sterling, Mary Seacole Trust Chair, told HuffPost: “Mary is not only a reflection of our great British history, but presents as a window of optimism for the younger generation. If there has ever been a time in our society where such values are paramount to be recognised, it is now. We commend Patrick Vernon for once again championing Mary Seacole and urge the public for their support in signing his petition.”

He said the production of the new note offers an opportunity to “put down another marker to demonstrate that we believe in a caring, compassionate and diverse society”. 

″The Bank’s announcement has created much discussion and debate. This is understandable given the number of appropriate candidates worthy of featuring. We believe that any person who features should fundamentally reflect the diverse nature of British society and broadly be accepted as having made an important contribution to society and/or its culture,” Sterling added.

“In this regard, there can be no better example than Mary Seacole who was forgotten for nearly one hundred years. It is only right that she be acknowledged in this way, her compassion and values are as relevant today as they ever were. Mary deserves her place in British history.”