New UK banknotes could feature Alexander McQueen

By

Cajsa Lykke Carlson

Published
May 21, 2015

Mark Carney, Governor of the Bank of England, has announced that the new £20 banknote will "celebrate Britain’s achievements in the visual arts." Earlier this week, he launched a campaign to let the British people nominate who should be on it.

It's the first time the Bank of England has used this process to choose new characters for banknotes, and buzz in the UK has it that the late designer Alexander McQueen could be chosen to grace the new note. The final decision will lie with Carney.

Betting agency Ladbrokes has McQueen at 8-1, reported The Guardian, making him the fifth favourite for the honour. William Hogarth and Richard Attenborough are the joint favourites at 4-1 each, followed by Turner at 5-1, Isambard Kingdom Brunel at 6-1, and then McQueen.

"There are a wealth of individuals within the field of visual arts whose work shaped British thought, innovation, leadership, values and society and who continue to inspire people today. I greatly look forward to hearing from the public who they would like to celebrate," Carney said.

Whoever is chosen by a panel of experts will replace Adam Smith, the Scottish economist.