No ethnic minorities have ever been on a banknote and only four women in history (including The Queen).
The current paper £20 note will be replaced with a polymer version from 2020. It will feature English Romantic painter William Turner. On 2 November, the Bank of England announced that the category for the “face” of the new polymer £50 banknote was scientists. This category is hugely important in terms of its contribution to our society. There are some phenomenal names being mentioned - Alan Turing, Ada Lovelace, Dorothy Hodgkin, Mary Anning and Stephen Hawking – and we wish the campaigns good luck!
The Bank of England strives to reflect the real economy and real people and the full diversity of British society. However, it may have inadvertently constructed a category of science that makes it less likely for an ethnic minority to be the new character. This is because historical scientists of ethnic minority origin would simply not have had the same access to science professions or pathways to progression and excellence as their peers. Many scientists of ethnic minority origin would have worked “in the background” as highlighted by The Royal Society which promotes and supports excellence in science.
This petition brings together two campaigns that were created by Dr. Patrick Vernon OBE and Zehra Zaidi when it was first announced that there would be a new face for the £50 note. We decided to work together as the issue of ethnic minority representation is bigger than any one campaign.
The Public Sector Equality Duty under the Equality Act 2010 requires due regard to the need of advancing equality of opportunity and fostering good relations. For future notes, we would like to see the first ever ethnic minority on a British banknote - we believe that its time has surely come. Our public institutions should reflect modern Britain.
Please sign and share this petition so the Bank of England will consider a person of colour in its entire history.