The New Brexit 50p Coin Is Too Much For Some Remainers
Chancellor Sajid Javid has unveiled the new commemorative 50p to mark Brexit next week - and has faced an angry and mocking backlash from Remainers, with some suggesting they will refuse to use the newly-minted coin.
Javid originally ordered production of the celebratory coins in advance of the original departure date from the EU of October 31.
But the Brexit delay meant about a million coins had to be melted down and the metal put aside until a new exit date was confirmed.
The chancellor, who is Master of the Mint, has now unveiled coins bearing the inscription “Peace, prosperity and friendship with all nations” and the date of January 31.
About three million Brexit coins will enter circulation around the UK from Friday, with a further seven million to be added later in the year.
But the launch was met with derision from those who campaigned to stay in the bloc.
Alastair Campbell, Tony Blair’s former spin doctor, he said he will ask shops for alternatives to the coin if he is handed one in the futur
I for one shall be asking shopkeepers for ‘two 20p pieces and a 10’ if they offer me a 50p coin pretending that Brexit is about ‘peace, prosperity and friendship with all nations’ given it puts all three at risk. If they insist I will be channeling this man pic.twitter.com/9nypxaQgxT
— ALASTAIR CAMPBELL (@campbellclaret) January 26, 2020
Former Labour Cabinet minister and peer Andrew Adonis went one further.
I am never using or accepting this coin pic.twitter.com/93hU1jgKzo
— Andrew Adonis (@Andrew_Adonis) January 26, 2020
Others suggested donating the coins as they could “only serve to divide further”.
The 50p Brexit coin is pure populism and can only serve to divide further — not least because Brexit means the very opposite of what is inscribed on the coin. As I said when news about this first emerged, I will keep every single coin I get and then donate it to @the3million. https://t.co/5h1ZkFHF7Q
— Prof Tanja Bueltmann (@cliodiaspora)