The Bank of England has been accused of "severing British history" after announcing plans to consider removing historic figures from UK bank notes.

The Bank has launched a consultation into whether Sir Winston Churchill, Jane Austen, artist JMW Turner and code-breaker Alan Turing should continue to appear on the reverse side of £5, £10, £20 and £50 notes.

Chief cashier Victoria Cleland claimed the move would enable opportunity for "real diversity" through a "different theme than historic figures".

Hitting out at the plans, Shadow Communities Secretary Kevin Hollinrake branded the move "wrongheaded wokery".

Rafe Heydel-Mankoo accused the Bank of England of 'severing British history' amid plans to change the bank notes

Speaking to GB News, Historian Rafe Heydel-Mankoo said the Bank of England are attempting to "create a new British identity".

He fumed: "This is just part of this continuing war on our history that we often discuss on this channel.

"It's a long war, and it's just basically another attempt not so gradually actually erase or rewrite our history, undermine our historical figures and events from the public spaces."

Highlighting the significance of historical figures on bank notes as an example of British sovereignty, Heydel-Mankoo added: "The imagery on banknotes, on our passports and the coins and stamps, they've traditionally always served to inspire pride in the nation.

The Bank of England is considering dropping the current crop of historical figures featuring on banknotes

"And those are really powerful symbols of our sovereignty and our identity just as much as the national flag or the or the royal coat of arms."

Criticising the Bank's "desire to change British identity", the historian explained: "They make a statement about our nation, who we are, and they help to shape an understanding of our identity and achievements and our heroes.

"And it speaks a lot to the changing fads and this desire we now see by our institutions, including the Bank of England, to create a new British identity which is completely severed from the past."

As Martin questioned whether the British admiration of Union flag and Winston Churchill could be the reason "why its being targeted", Heydel-Mankoo agreed.

Heydel-Mankoo told GB News said the Bank of England is 'embarrassed by Britain's history'

He stated: "That's precisely why it's been targeted, that's what this is all about. The Bank of England is just part of this long march through the institution. The Bank of England, remember, in its new Bank of England museum, it has a permanent exhibition on slavery.

"And we need to understand that the elites who control our institutions bear no comparison to the generations that occupy those institutions. They're cuckoos in the nest.

"They're embarrassed by Britain's history and its historical figures, and what these people used to understand love of nation. And they've replaced that with national self-loathing.

"And so what they're doing is they're doing their best to create a new British identity, which is completely severed from those roots and is based upon new foundational myths."