British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer delivered a formal apology on Thursday to women who were compelled to give up their babies for adoption and to those who were separated from their mothers at birth under a system targeting unmarried women in the decades after the Second World War.
Speaking in parliament, Starmer expressed that the state was “deeply and profoundly sorry” for the enduring trauma caused by policies that resulted in the separation of approximately 185,000 children from their mothers in Britain between 1949 and 1976.
This apology comes after years of advocacy by survivors and follows a 2019 conclusion by Britain’s Joint Committee on Human Rights, which held the government ultimately accountable for failing to protect unmarried mothers and their babies from coercive adoption practices.
During this period, unmarried pregnant women faced significant social stigma and pressure from both state institutions and Christian churches to relinquish their babies. Many were sent to so-called “mother and baby homes,” where they were forcibly separated from their newborns, often against their wishes.
In a related development last month, the Church of England issued an apology for its role in operating some of these homes, acknowledging its part in practices that inflicted lasting harm on thousands of women and children.
Before addressing parliament, Starmer met with a group of affected mothers and adopted individuals at his residence in Downing Street. He expressed deep regret for the suffering they endured, stating, “There never was any shame for you. The shame actually is ours. The shame is on the state and all those that were responsible for this.”
Britain’s apology aligns with similar acknowledgments made by Ireland and Australia regarding their historical treatment of unmarried mothers and the forced adoption of their children.
Campaigners have welcomed the apology as a vital step toward recognizing decades of injustice, while continuing to call for enhanced support and improved access to historical records for those affected by these policies.
