The Bank of England is considering which woman to have on a banknote, a proposal not advanced further by Mervyn King saying that we have one already, the Queen!
Who would you have? She must be dead and not controversial. I propose Mrs Pankhurst, whose campaign was violent , thus controversial, but that fact is now overlooked. Mary Seacole has, of course, been suggested, but I feel that, although acknowledged in her own time, she is primarily supported now because she is something of an icon simply because she happened to be black. That does not strike me as a valid reason, however desirable.
OG, setting fire to the Prime Minister's house, might be seen as fair comment now! Not so sure about burning cricket pavilions and a church though, but Mrs Pankhurst is now revered and such embarrassments get forgotten
Yes, Edith Sitwell was certainly distinctive to look at. No forger would dare try to reproduce that nose. What memorable poetry did she write? Christies have her picture by the gents' bog. Never understood whether that was some criticism.
the Duke of Wellington was at least as divisive a prime minister as Thatcher, and he's been on a note. On the other hand, they waited 120 years after his death before putting him there, so they should do the same for Thatcher.