British Prime Minister Keir Starmer issued a formal apology on Thursday for the forced adoption of an estimated 185,000 children born to unmarried mothers in England and Wales between 1949 and 1976. Describing the practice as "a stain on our history," Starmer acknowledged the systemic nature of the coercion that led many young and vulnerable women to give up their babies.

During a parliamentary session, Starmer expressed profound regret for the pain inflicted on mothers who were often pressured by social, institutional, and familial forces into relinquishing their children. Many of these mothers, including teenagers, were told they were unfit to care for their babies and denied support, sometimes enduring lifelong trauma as a result. "The shame is not yours. The shame was never yours. The shame is ours," the prime minister said.

The apology follows a parliamentary committee investigation that revealed widespread abuses of mothers, including the denial of painkillers during childbirth as a form of "punishment" and the forcible removal of infants from their mothers’ arms. Testimonies collected by the committee highlighted harsh treatment from medical staff, with one woman recalling being told during labor, "Have you learnt your lesson now?" Another survivor reported being advised by a doctor that she should undergo sterilization on the assumption of promiscuity.

Starmer also recognized the role that local authorities, faith-based organizations, and social care services played in perpetuating these practices. "The state bears responsibility for the systems it funded and legitimised... for this systemic failure," he said, expressing sincere remorse on behalf of the government.

The apology aligns the United Kingdom with countries such as Australia and Ireland, which have previously acknowledged similar forced adoption practices through official apologies issued in 2013 and 2021 respectively. The British government’s admission comes four years after a parliamentary committee recommended such a measure.

Recent apologies have also been made by other institutions connected to the scandal. The Church of England, through Archbishop of Canterbury Sarah Mullally, expressed regret last month for its involvement, acknowledging the "pain, trauma, and stigma" caused to those affected under its care. Additionally, the devolved administrations in Wales and Scotland have issued apologies in 2023 for the impact of similar policies within their jurisdictions.

Northern Ireland is expected to follow suit, although an official apology there awaits the conclusion of a public inquiry into mother and baby institutions, Magdalene laundries, and workhouses, as recommended by a 2021 report.

The forced adoption practices took place within a context of significant social stigma around unmarried motherhood, even after abortion was legalized in England, Scotland, and Wales in 1967. Despite the legal change, many women still faced significant barriers, including conscientious objections from medical professionals.

Starmer concluded by honoring the survivors who campaigned tirelessly for acknowledgement, commending their courage in sharing their experiences and seeking justice for decades.