“Bankers Have Messed Up” – Bradford Author on Currency Scandal

by Emma Wilkinson

Bradford-based writer, artist and tattooist, Dr Joolz Denby branded the Bank of England “pathetic” and “stupid” in reference to the on-going saga about female figures appearing on currency.

In April the central bank announced that the face of prison reformer Elizabeth Fry would be replaced by wartime Prime Minister Winston Churchill on £5 notes, leaving The Queen as the only female face to grace bank notes.

But today the Governor of the Bank of England, Sir Mervyn King diffused criticisms of the decision, saying author Jane Austen is "quietly waiting in the wings" to be the face of the new £10 note.

But equality activist Dr Denby said: “The fact that they’ve had Jane Austen ‘in the wings’ shows they had some idea that everyone might complain about the lack of women and they simply had her as a contingency plan. It’s pathetic, if they wanted Jane Austen, why not put her on straight away, rather than replace the only female face with Winston Churchill?”

The initial suggestion that historical female figures may disappear from bank notes completely, prompted demands from feminist campaigners to know how the bank came to its decision and a group of 46 MPs and peers wrote to the bank asking them to reconsider.

The current selection criteria for anyone appearing on a bank note are that the person should be 'uncontroversial', easily recognisable, have made an enduring contribution to society and good artwork must exist on which a design can be based.

Dr Denby said the issue goes much further than women not being represented on bank notes though, suggesting that education on historical female figures is seriously lacking.

“Iconic male figures are very well-known but respected women in history are not sufficiently taught about in schools. A lot of young people would have no idea who Elizabeth Fry is and that is a real problem,” she said.

The final decision on whether Jane Austen will be recognised on future bank notes will be in the hands of Sir King’s successor, Mark Carney, who takes over the role on 1 July.

Dr Denby said although she would personally like to see the Celtic Queen Boudica grace the front of a bank note, she recognises Jane Austen would be a popular choice.

She said: “People love Jane Austen and regard her writing as iconic English writing and for those many women who admire her, I think it would be the right choice.”