Forced adoptions: Government to apologise to victims in England

The government has announced it will issue an official apology to victims of forced adoptions in England, following extensive campaigning by mothers and adoptees affected by the practice. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson confirmed this commitment during a session with the House of Commons Education Committee, highlighting the significance of acknowledging what she described as a “shameful period” in the country’s history.

Between the end of World War Two and the late 1970s, approximately 185,000 babies were removed from their mothers, with many of the mothers being pressured to give up their children for adoption due to their unmarried status. This state-influenced environment created conditions where unmarried mothers were frequently coerced or shamed, a fact underlined by the Joint Committee on Human Rights in its 2021 inquiry. The committee’s March report stressed the urgent need for a government apology and improvements in access to adoption records, as well as trauma-informed support for those reconnecting with birth families.

Phillipson reassured the committee that a full apology would be forthcoming, with the prime minister expected to speak on the matter soon. “The prime minister will have more to say on this shameful period in our history, reflecting the gravity of what has happened,” she stated. The government’s forthcoming statement aims to provide “the apology that you so profoundly deserve,” acknowledging the pain caused by these historical actions.

While the report stopped short of recommending financial compensation for victims, it called for a thorough review of how other countries, including Australia, Northern Ireland, and the Republic of Ireland, have addressed similar histories of forced adoption. Previous government responses have varied: in 2023, the Conservative government expressed regret but declined to issue a formal apology, arguing that the state did not actively support these practices. Conversely, the Scottish and Welsh governments have already issued apologies, and the Church of England is also anticipated to acknowledge its role in this issue in the near future

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