United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer formally apologized Thursday for the government’s involvement in the forced adoption of children born to unmarried mothers following World War II, describing the policy as a “stain on our history.” The practice, which took place between 1949 and 1976, involved the coercion and stigmatization of thousands of predominantly young and unmarried mothers, many of whom were teenagers, resulting in approximately 185,000 children being adopted against their families’ will.

In a parliamentary address, Starmer expressed the government’s “deep and profound” remorse toward those affected by the policy. He acknowledged the state’s failure to adequately protect mothers, children, and families from harm during this period. “For this systemic failure I am truly sorry,” he said. The apology follows a recent statement from the Church of England, which admitted its role in these forced adoptions, particularly through its operation of “mother and baby homes.” These institutions often detained pregnant women involuntarily and facilitated the separation of mothers from their children.

The controversy has been under parliamentary scrutiny for several years, with a committee recommending an official government apology four years prior after uncovering widespread abuse and coercion of unmarried mothers. Comparable apologies have been issued internationally, including by the governments of Australia in 2013 and Ireland in 2021, countries that also grappled with forced adoption scandals.

Starmer emphasized that the forced adoption system was deeply embedded across various sectors, including local government bodies, faith-based organizations, and health and social care services. To address ongoing impacts, the government announced it would allocate £4 million (approximately $5.3 million) to facilitate access to adoption records, support services aiming to reunite separated families, and fund research into the long-term consequences faced by those affected.

The prime minister’s apology and accompanying initiatives mark a significant acknowledgement of past injustices committed under the UK’s state and institutional policies and aim to provide support for survivors and their descendants.