Starmer issues formal government apology for decades of forced adoption of children born to unmarried mothers

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer issued a formal apology on Thursday for the role of the British state in separating tens of thousands of unmarried mothers from their children, a practice that continued for decades until the 1970s.

Speaking in Parliament, he said, “We feel deep and profound regret” over what he described as a “stain on our history.”

Nearly 185,000 babies born to unmarried mothers were adopted in England and Wales between 1949 and 1976. Activists have campaigned for years for official recognition that mothers were pressured, deceived, and threatened into giving up their children.

Starmer met with a group of activists today, who witnessed his apology delivered in the House of Commons.

He stated that women were subjected to “coercion, bullying, and misinformation” to force them to believe they had no choice but to surrender their children.

He added that children grew up believing they were unwanted, and mothers were told that their children would be better off without them.

Alongside the apology, support was announced for affected mothers and children, including improved access to adoption records and mental health support.