London, May 12 (ANI): The Bank of England is facing a threat of court action for failing to adhere to equality laws following its decision to replace the only historical female figure on English banknotes with a man.
Solicitors acting for feminist campaigner Caroline Criado-Perez have written to the Bank accusing it of failing in its duties to eliminate gender discrimination under the Equality Act, reports the Guardian.
It comes after the Bank of England's governor, Sir Mervyn King, announced last month that social reformer Elizabeth Fry would be replaced with former prime minister Winston Churchill on the 5 pound banknote from 2016.
More than 23,000 signatures have been added to an online petition set up by Criado-Perez, co-founder of thewomensroom.org.uk, calling for the Bank to reverse its decision to remove the only woman, other than the Queen as head of state, to feature on a banknote.
Criado-Perez said that an all-male lineup on banknotes sends out the damaging message that no woman has done anything important enough to appear. It is not acceptable for such an influential institution to overlook women in this way, she added.
Solicitors Deighton Peirce Glynn, acting on behalf of Criado-Perez, have contacted the Bank claiming it has failed in its duties under the Equality Act.
Louise Whitfield, who is representing the campaigner, expressed astonishment that the Bank of England has been unable to think of any great women to appear on their banknotes, given that there are so many. Whitfield said this is the perfect opportunity for a national institution to promote equality but it has failed to do so.
The Bank has two weeks to respond. (ANI)
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