‘All backgrounds helped build Britain’: Ethnic minorities to feature on coins for first time ever

‘We hope it helps build cohesion, inspires young people and unites us as a nation that we all have an equal stake and contribution in society,’ says campaigner

A non-white individual has never featured on coins or notes in the UK (Getty)

Britain’s currency is set to feature black and ethnic minority figures for the first time ever after a long-running campaign.

A non-white individual has never featured on coins or notes in the UK and the Banknotes of Colour campaign has been urging the government to change this.

Zehra Zaidi, a former Conservative parliamentary candidate who spearheaded the campaign, told The Independent the government’s interest is the “culmination” of two and a half years of hard work.

She added: “People from all backgrounds helped build Britain. We Too Built Britain campaign group wanted to show inclusive history and all the people from all ethnic and social backgrounds and all walks of life who helped build Britain.

"Notes and coins – if you see Bank of England and Royal Mint websites – are supposed to reflect those who we feel contributed to our history, economy, and culture as a nation.

"Our campaign felt an absolute urgency to acknowledge that ethnic minorities have been part of that conversation and achieved so much. We hope it helps build cohesion, inspires young people and unites us as a nation that we all have an equal stake and contribution in society.

“Unity now is more important than ever, especially given some of the divisions we see online, the divisions we have faced post Brexit. Let’s move forward, positively, acknowledging all our contributions.”

Treasury minister John Glen told The Sunday Telegraph that Rishi Sunak is contemplating campaigners' demands to have influential Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) people featured on a set of coins.

Mary Seacole, British-Jamaican Crimean War nurse, Noor Inayat Khan, a World War II agent, and the first Indian and Gurkha soldiers who were awarded with the Victoria Cross, are potential figures who are being considered to feature on currency.

The Treasury has encouraged the Royal Mint to draw up suggestions and designs for possible coins. Mr Glen told the paper Mr Sunak was “keen to support” the “timely proposal”.

He added: “The chancellor is aware of this. We are obviously supportive and keen to be positive about it, we need to see some firm proposals from the Royal Mint but we are keen for this to happen”.

People celebrated the possible move to feature black and ethnic minority figures on British currency on social media.

“Black and ethnic minority people could feature on British coins for the first time. The Mary Seacole Trust were delighted to support @Zehra_Zaidi in her campaigning,” the Mary Seacole Trust said in a statement.