As Scots are asked to vote on new animals for Bank of England notes, an opportunity arises
The Bank of England wants Scots (and other residents of the UK) to vote for which animals should replace historical figures on its bank notes
Scots travelling south of the Border have long had to face shopkeepers’ intransigence over Scottish bank notes. “But it’s legal tender,” we usually say, incorrectly (they are ‘legal currency’, but not ‘legal tender’, even in Scotland, rather oddly). And, alas, as the Bank of England explains, shops can refuse any kind of payment – they could only accept Pokémon cards if they wanted to.
However, while we may struggle on that score, we do have a chance to introduce a Scottish flavour into Bank of England notes, with “residents of the UK and British citizens living abroad” invited to vote for animals to replace the current historical figures – including, controversially, Winston Churchill.
The ‘Scottish-ish’ animals on the list include Atlantic salmon, Atlantic puffins, white-tailed eagles, pine martens and grey seals (whose passing resemblance to Churchill could be a plus).
Given the power of subliminal advertising, proud Englishmen and women may find themselves with an inexplicable yearning to travel north to see our natural wonders. And, who knows, on returning home, with purses full of Scottish money, they might just help persuade those pernickety shopkeepers that our notes are just fine.
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