The trauma inflicted by England and Wales' forced adoption policies on an estimated 185,000 babies taken from unmarried mothers between 1949 and 1976 is set to be formally acknowledged by Prime Minister Keir Starmer today. As he delivers his long-awaited apology in Parliament, campaigners who have spent years fighting for recognition are hoping it will bring some measure of closure to those affected.
The practice, driven by a societal culture of shame surrounding pregnancy outside of marriage, saw babies removed from their mothers and placed for adoption – often without consent. While many mother and baby homes were run by religious organisations, local councils also played a significant role in facilitating these adoptions, leading to calls for state accountability.
The need for a formal apology has been repeatedly urged upon the government by parliamentary bodies. In 2022, the Joint Committee on Human Rights stated that "the government bears ultimate responsibility for the pain and suffering caused by public institutions and state employees that railroaded mothers into unwanted adoptions." More recently, in March, the Commons education committee also recommended a government apology, underscoring the cross-party consensus on the need for recognition and redress.
Last month, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson confirmed that an apology was forthcoming, describing the period as a "shameful chapter in our history." This move contrasts with the previous Conservative government's position in 2023, which, while expressing sorrow "on behalf of society," declined to issue a formal state apology, arguing that the state did not actively support the practices.
The Westminster apology follows similar acknowledgments in other parts of the UK. Administrations in Wales and Scotland issued apologies to those impacted in their respective nations three years ago. In Northern Ireland, an apology is also anticipated, though it is expected to follow the conclusion of a public inquiry into mother and baby institutions, Magdalene laundries, and workhouses, as recommended by a 2021 report.
Starmer is scheduled to meet with campaigners in Downing Street this morning before delivering his statement to Members of Parliament later today. The apology is aimed at acknowledging the profound and lasting harm caused to both mothers, who described harrowing experiences of separation and enduring shame, and to adopted adults, who often faced a "harmful narrative" that their adoption was solely beneficial.