The Bank of England has announced it will no longer include historical figures on banknotes, such as Winston Churchill, due to concerns that these figures are viewed as 'elitist and divisive.' This decision follows a study by market research firm Savanta, which recommended replacing portraits with imagery of UK wildlife, arguing that historical figures project a 'backward-looking vision' and are often associated with imperialism. The central bank plans to involve the public in selecting new designs, with options including animals like the red fox and the bottlenose dolphin. This move has sparked significant backlash, with critics labeling it as 'wrongheaded wokery' and an erasure of British history. The decision is part of a larger trend in the UK, where institutions have been reassessing their historical ties to colonialism, prompting changes in how history is represented in public spaces. The Bank of England has featured historical figures on its banknotes for over fifty years, with Shakespeare being the first non-royal figure to appear in 1970.