Sir Keir Starmer has described forced adoption as 'a stain on our history', condemning the systematic coercion of mothers into giving up their children. In a statement, the Labour leader said the practices, which were particularly prevalent between 1949 and 1976 but also extended beyond those years, should never have happened.
Systemic coercion and bullying
Starmer said: 'What happened to them, and to tens of thousands of mothers, children, and families, should never have happened. It is a stain on our history. Mothers, many young, vulnerable, and without support were coerced, bullied, or misled into feeling that they had no choice but to have their children taken away from them. What a thing to do.'
He emphasised that these were not isolated or accidental acts but practices embedded within systems across local authorities, voluntary and faith-based institutions, and health and social care services, including parts of what is now the NHS.
Institutions lacked compassion
Starmer criticised the institutions involved, stating they 'operated with power over people’s lives, yet they did so without compassion, without consent, and without dignity or proper safeguards.' The forced adoption practices affected tens of thousands of mothers and children across the UK, leaving lasting trauma.
