The Bank of England is replacing historical figures on its banknotes with images of native UK wildlife after conducting several public and internal reviews.

英格蘭銀行在進行多次公眾與內部審查後，決定將鈔票上的歷史人物更換為英國本土野生動物的圖像。

This change in currency design is based on a shift in how the institution wants to represent the nation. According to the Bank of England, a public survey of 44,000 people showed that most preferred nature-themed images over other options, such as buildings or historical events. This result was later confirmed by focus groups. Consequently, a shortlist of animals—including the bottlenose dolphin, red fox, and common frog—has been chosen for the £5, £10, £20, and £50 notes.

這次貨幣設計的改變，是基於該機構希望代表國家的方式有所轉變。根據英格蘭銀行，一項針對 44,000 人的公眾調查顯示，大多數人比起建築物或歷史事件等其他選項，更偏好自然主題的圖像。這一結果隨後被焦點小組證實。因此，已選出一個動物短名單——包括瓶鼻海豚、赤狐和普通蛙——用於 5 英鎊、10 英鎊、20 英鎊和 50 英鎊的鈔票。

Additionally, reports suggest that the decision was influenced by a study from Savanta, a market research company. The findings indicated that including historical figures, such as Sir Winston Churchill and Jane Austen, was seen as elitist and did not reflect the modern cultural diversity of the UK. The research argued that these portraits focused too much on the past and could cause social division. Furthermore, the company advised against using old architecture due to links with colonialism and slavery, and warned that some natural landmarks might be associated with immigration issues.

此外，報告指出該決定受到市場研究公司 Savanta 一項研究的影響。研究結果顯示，納入溫斯頓·邱吉爾爵士和簡·奧斯汀等歷史人物被視為精英主義，且無法反映英國現代的文化多元性。研究認為這些肖像過於關注過去，可能會導致社會分歧。此外，該公司建議不要使用古建築，因為與殖民主義和奴隸制度相關，並警告某些自然地標可能會與移民問題掛鉤。

This policy change has caused a divided political reaction. Some politicians from Reform UK and the Conservative Party have described the move as an attempt to erase British history. They believe this decision is part of a wider trend where institutions are reassessing colonial legacies. On the other hand, the Bank emphasizes that this transition is a positive evolution. They also noted that wildlife images may be harder for criminals to counterfeit than human portraits.

這次政策改變引起了分歧的政治反應。來自英國改革黨和保守黨的部分政治人物將此舉描述為企圖抹除英國歷史。他們認為這項決定是更廣泛趨勢的一部分，即各機構正在重新評估殖民遺產。另一方面，英格蘭銀行強調這次轉型是正面的演進。他們還指出，野生動物圖像比人類肖像更難被犯罪分子偽造。

The final choice of wildlife images will be decided by Governor Andrew Bailey, with an official announcement expected by the end of 2026.

最終選擇哪些野生動物圖像將由行長 Andrew Bailey 決定，預計 2026 年底將有正式公告。