Prime Minister Keir Starmer has issued a formal apology on behalf of the nation to mothers, children, and families affected by forced adoption in the United Kingdom. Speaking in Parliament, he described the practices as a 'stain on our history' and expressed profound regret for the trauma inflicted on an estimated 185,000 individuals.
Details of the Apology
Starmer addressed campaigners in the public gallery directly, stating: 'The shame is not yours. The shame was never yours. The shame is ours. And I say on behalf of the whole country, I say it to every single person impacted, we are deeply and profoundly sorry.' The apology comes after years of campaigning by victims and their families.
Historical Context
Forced adoption primarily occurred between 1949 and 1976, when unmarried women were pressured by official bodies—including local authorities, voluntary and faith-based institutions, and health and social care services—into giving up their children. Starmer noted that these organisations 'operated with power over people's lives, yet they did so without compassion, without consent, and without dignity or proper safeguards.'
Impact on Victims
Former Labour MP Ann Keen, who was forced to give up her baby at age 17 in 1966, told the BBC's Today programme she looked forward to 'being released from my shame' by the apology. She said: 'We all need this apology because we have always been accused of giving up our babies and we didn't give them up.'
Government Measures
Starmer announced that the government will improve access to adoption records and establish a national online resource to help locate them, alongside other measures. The apology follows similar apologies from the Scottish and Welsh governments in March and April 2023, as well as an Education Committee inquiry report recommending an urgent apology.
