𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

A BBC Question Time audience member warned that the Green Party is a “danger to our country” in a fiery attack on last night’s show.

The moment came after the man asked about the row over replacing historical figures including Winston Churchill on banknotes with British wildlife.

He said: “Is it not highly disrespectful to remove Winston Churchill from banknotes? This move appears to be surrendering to the radical left-wing.”

Pressed for his thoughts, he added: “I just feel that it’s a complete unnecessary move. It’s obviously going to be at a cost to change it to animals and I question where this country would be without such a great leader as Winston Churchill was.

“These Greens who want the seat next to mine, so I live in the Dukinfield constituency with Angela Rayner as my MP, the Greens want my seat.

“They’re what I deem the radical left and a danger to our country and society economically more than anything.”

In response, Green MP Siân Berry said she backed the move by the Bank of England, which has sparked criticism from parties including the Tories, Reform UK and the Lib Dems.

She said: “This is a good move from the Bank of England. It’s to do with how easy it is to forge I believe but I fully support it.

“I think it’s really quite amusing that this week the leader of the Opposition has been asked to deny that she’s ashamed of British animals.

“I love our otters and our badgers and Caroline Lucas my predecessor fought long and hard to get a natural history GCSE onto the curriculum.

“I think having animals on our banknotes will help with our natural history education in a wonderful way.”

The bank said the change after more than 50 years of showcasing people from Britain’s history will make it more difficult for the notes to be faked.

It follows a public consultation in which the UK wildlife theme received the highest proportion of nominations.