Black and Asian Minority Ethnic (BAME) leaders are now slated to appear on British currency.
On 26th July, reports surfaced about chancellor Rishi Sunak considering the proposals to have influential BAME people appear on a set of coins according to treasury minister John Glen’s statement to The Sunday Telegraph.
Noor Inayat Khan who was a World War II agent and one of only four women to have received the George Cross is being considered, besides the first Indian and Gurkha soldiers.
Plans have been submitted to the Royal Mint, which has been encouraged by the Treasury to draft proposals and designs for potential coins. Sunak has previously spoken about his own experiences of racism and thus, supported the calls for widespread changes in attitudes about race.
"As a British Asian of course I know that racism exists in this country. And I know people are angry and frustrated. They want to see, and feel, change," he said.
"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," Mr Glen said to The Sunday Telegraph.
Non-white individuals have yet to feature on British coins or notes.
