They are, according to the British Museum, ” objects resembling banknotes, with a political, satirical or fantasy theme (ie. they are not real money).” I couldn’t have put it better myself. So I used cut and paste, the plagiarist’s friend.
Unfortunately that’s about all the museum has to say on the subject, though they do have a few illustrations. The Cruikshank note is political (anti-hanging), others are Bank of Love and an advert. These are the broad categories you tend to get today.
Boris Johnson Political/Satirical skit note
Though skit notes have been about since at least the early 19th Century, I’m going to concentrate on a few of the more modern ones – one of Jacob Rees Mogg and one of Boris Johnson. They are both Old Etonians who went to Oxford and then set themselves up in politics to run the country. Rees Mogg is often known as the “honourable member for the 18th Century” due to his old-fashioned views, hence the top hat and denomination of “guineas” on the note and the slightly rude Latin mottoes on the note. Boris is best known as a liar, hence the sum mentioned on the note – infamous Brexit Bus lie.
I don’t totally dislike Rees Mogg as I do love an eccentric. I also believe that he is a man of conviction. It’s just a shame that I feel many of his convictions stink. According to Wikipedia (for those of you who didn’t read the link) “In February 2012, he used the word “floccinaucinihilipilification“—meaning “the habit of considering as worthless”—during a parliamentary debate; it was noted as the longest word then uttered on the floor of the House of Commons.” Of course, my view of him will be of no interest to him as I am of that sort he classifies as oafs.
Boris, on the other hand, being a repeat adulterer and serial liar, has no place in national politics and entertaining as he can be, should be removed from public life and, if there is any justice, be incarcerated in a small damp cell forever.
However, this isn’t a political blog so I will calm down. It’s strange to reflect, as I was saying to my sister earlier today, I am generally conservative by nature, but would be quite happy for these two to be consigned to the fires of Hell and prodded by demons on a regular basis.
The reverse of both the notes share a reverse, which is considerably less forthright than I am.
Reverse of Rees Mogg and Johnson Skit Notes
As a bit of light relief I will add another note, based on our old £5 from my youth.
Euro Skit Note
I never heard of skit notes. I did not find anything similar over here, though it may go by a different name. 🙂
I think that like the flag, you have more limitations on what you can do with your notes compared to us. That is probably the reason, though I can’t find any proof after a quick search.
Does Rees Mogg drink gin?
Suspecting you are baiting a trap for me, I looked the answer to your question up on the internet. It seems that he does like gin. 🙂
https://www.business-live.co.uk/retail-consumer/jacob-rees-mogg-says-bottoms-23819821
Actually I thought there was a section of Hogarth’s “Gin Lane” on the spoof note.
Sorry – yes there is. I’d forgotten that, 🙂
Love the idea of skit notes – never heard of them before. You do wonder how some MPs, of ALL parties, get elected. It’s embarrassing, how mediocre or downright intellectually limited some are. Surely it’s not about blind prejudice and money? I’m not hung up about Eton any more than someone that went to the local comprehensive – it’s the person that counts. To think we pay for these twits! But I was discussing Boris with someone the other day and we wondered how he would have done if he hadn’t had such an uncertain relationship with the truth as Prime Minister, and smartened himself up a bit. The really worrying thing is that dishonesty is all over political and business life now.
You missed your calling – “uncertain relationship with the truth” deserves to be far more widely known and you should be feted for the elegance of your writing.
One of the factors shared by our politicians is self-confidence. Whether they get it by being rich or privately educated, or simply by being poor and just not bright enough to suffer from self-doubt, it’s a universal trait.
I like the range of your skits but I feel that Cameron and Osborne get off far to lightly when abuse is being flung around.
It’s difficult to satirise someone who has no character – that’s why Major got off more lightly than Thatcher and Starmer has nothing to fear from satirists.