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Jane Austen could grace £10 banknotes, Mervyn King says Jane Austen could grace £10 banknotes, Mervyn King says
(about 1 hour later)
Jane Austen, the author of Pride and Prejudice and Emma, could be the face of the new £10, the outgoing governor of the Bank of England Sir Mervyn King revealed on Wednesday. Jane Austen could be the face of the new £10 note, according to the retiring governor of the Bank of England.
The much-loved Regency author is "quietly waiting in the wings", King told MPs at the Treasury select committee, although a final decision will be taken by his successor, Mark Carney, who takes up his post on 1 July. The author is "quietly waiting in the wings", Sir Mervyn King told the Treasury select committee, although a final decision will be taken by his successor, Mark Carney, who takes up the post on 1 July.
King provoked a storm of protest when he announced that the only woman to appear on an English banknote other than the Queen – prison reformer Elizabeth Fry – will disappear in 2015, to be replaced by wartime prime minister Winston Churchill. Campaigners have threatened to take the bank to court for discrimination under the Equality Act. King provoked a storm of protest when he announced that the only woman to appear on an English banknote other than the Queen – the prison reformer Elizabeth Fry – would be replaced by Winston Churchill in 2015. Campaigners have threatened to take the Bank to court for discrimination under the 2010 Equality Act.
Historical figures were first introduced on British banknotes in 1970, since when there have been only two women: Fry and Florence Nightingale. The others have all been men, from William Shakespeare and Charles Dickens to composer Sir Edward Elgar and scientist Michael Faraday.Historical figures were first introduced on British banknotes in 1970, since when there have been only two women: Fry and Florence Nightingale. The others have all been men, from William Shakespeare and Charles Dickens to composer Sir Edward Elgar and scientist Michael Faraday.
Churchill, who King has described as "a truly great British leader, orator and writer", will make his debut on the five-pound note as planned from 2015. King added that once the Churchill notes are in circulation, Fry will continue to appear on the old £5 notes until they are phased out. Churchill, who King has described as "a truly great British leader, orator and writer", will make his debut on the £5 note as planned from 2015. King added that once the Churchill notes are in circulation, Fry will continue to appear on the old £5 notes until they are phased out.
Members of the public put forward suggestions on who should appear on banknotes, although the Bank only considers figures who have made an "indisputable contribution to their particular field of work". It takes into account the list of public suggestions when picking a new picture but the governor of the Bank has the final decision. Members of the public put forward suggestions on who should appear on banknotes, although the Bank only considers figures who have made an "indisputable contribution to their particular field of work". It takes into account the list of public suggestions when choosing a new picture but the governor of the Bank has the final decision.