Starmer to issue formal apology to mothers and children harmed by historic forced adoption policies
Good morning. Keir Starmer is addressing outstanding matters in his final three weeks in office, and today he will resolve a long-standing issue by delivering a formal apology on behalf of the state to victims of forced adoption policies implemented in the mid-20th century.
Between 1949 and 1976, approximately 185,000 babies were taken from unmarried mothers and placed for adoption in England and Wales due to a societal stigma surrounding pregnancy outside marriage. The mother and baby homes involved were predominantly operated by religious organisations, although local councils also played a role in placing children for adoption.
In March, the Commons Education Committee recommended that the government issue a formal apology. Its report is available, and Jessica Murray covered the story at that time.
Here is the preview from the Press Association ahead of Starmer’s statement today.
"Survivors of historical forced adoption are to get the state apology they have spent decades campaigning for when Keir Starmer says sorry in parliament.
The prime minister is expected to stand in the Commons and acknowledge the harm caused when an estimated 185,000 babies of unmarried mothers were adopted in England and Wales between 1949 and 1976.
Starmer’s formal apology will come after he meets with campaigners in Downing Street this morning.
The Joint Committee on Human Rights (JCHR) called for a state apology in 2022, saying ‘the government bears ultimate responsibility for the pain and suffering caused by public institutions and state employees that railroaded mothers into unwanted adoptions’.
Mothers forced to give up their babies have previously described the harrowing experiences of having them taken away and the lingering feelings of shame, while adults who were removed as children from their mothers have spoken of a ‘harmful narrative’ which long persisted that adoption had saved them.
It was confirmed last month by Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson that a long-campaigned-for apology was forthcoming regarding what she called a ‘shameful period in our history’.
The Westminster apology comes three years after administrations in Cardiff and Holyrood issued apologies to people affected across Wales and Scotland.
In Northern Ireland, an apology is also anticipated but will follow a public inquiry, as recommended by a 2021 report on mother and baby institutions, Magdalene laundries, and workhouses.
Despite the JCHR report recommending ministers apologise, the then-Conservative government in 2023 stated that while it was sorry ‘on behalf of society’ for the treatment of the women, it did not consider a formal apology appropriate ‘since the state did not actively support these practices’.
Here is the agenda for the day.
- 9am: Ed Davey, the Liberal Democrat leader, is on a visit related to his party’s policies on water companies.
- 9.30am: Peter Kyle, the Business Secretary, takes questions in the Commons.
- Around 11.30am: Keir Starmer makes a statement to MPs including an apology to victims of the government’s forced adoption policy in the mid-20th century.
- Afternoon: Kemi Badenoch is on a visit in Hertfordshire.
- At some point today, Shabana Mahmood, the Home Secretary, will publish a written statement responding to part one of the inquiry into the Southport killings.
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Former Labour MP forced to give up baby for adoption says mothers will be 'released from shame' by PM's apology
Ann Keen, a former health minister who was compelled to give up a baby for adoption as a teenager, expressed anticipation for “being released from my shame” when she and other campaigners receive a state apology.
Keen was sent to a Swansea mother and baby home in 1966 at age 17. She told the Today programme:
“We all need this apology because we have always been accused of giving up our babies and we didn’t give them up.
In particular, so many were taken without our knowledge and in my own instance, I went to see my baby on the eighth day because I was told I could have him for 10 [days], and they said: ‘Oh no, he’s gone now. You were getting far too close.’”
Keen said mothers like her were told their children would be better cared for if adopted. “Sadly, that hasn’t always been the case,” she added.
She also stated they were informed they would not be entitled to welfare support to raise their children, which was “totally untrue.”
Additionally, some mothers were given medication to suppress lactation that later proved carcinogenic, she said.
Keen’s son found her and re-established contact after discovering at age 27 that he had been adopted. She affirmed that Starmer’s apology was appropriate.
“I understand why the prime minister’s team wanted to get this right, because we’ve now got the opportunity to really put this wrong right, we’ve been waiting a long time, and so I’m just looking forward to today and being released from my shame.
There’s so much trauma attached to all of our families in so many different ways … Even when I was being sworn in as, as an MP, I couldn’t do it because I didn’t feel I was worthy.”
Keen, who served as MP for Brentford and Isleworth from 1997 to 2010, will be among the victims meeting the Prime Minister before his Commons statement at approximately 11.30am.
Minister says 'work needs to happen' to persuade Pakistan to be willing to take back Rochdale grooming gang leader
Officials are “looking at every route” to deport the Rochdale grooming ringleader, who is due to be released from prison today, a minister stated.
As Josh Halliday, Hannah Al-Othman, and Rajeev Syal report, Andy Burnham, expected to become Prime Minister later this month, is among those advocating that the government explore all options to deport Shabir Ahmed.
In an interview on LBC this morning, Jacqui Smith, the Skills Minister, said Ahmed is among a “small number” of individuals who arrived in the UK from Commonwealth countries over 50 years ago and whom the law prevents from being deported. However, she added that the government is “doing everything we can, looking at every route, to get this guy out of the country.”
She also indicated that Pakistan has declined to accept Ahmed.
“There are two problems here.
Number one, there are a very small number of people who came to this country over 50 years ago from Commonwealth countries where the law doesn’t allow them to be deported.
And, secondly, of course, in order to deport somebody, the country to which you are going to deport them needs to be willing to take them.
We’ve removed this man’s British citizenship. He’s a Pakistani citizen.
But there is also work that needs to happen in order to persuade Pakistan to take him back.”
How Church of England apologised for its role in forced adoptions
Two weeks ago, the Church of England issued an apology for its involvement in forced adoptions, telling survivors that “the shame is ours.” Chris Osuh reported on this development.
