Keir Starmer is set to make a formal apology on behalf of the UK state to people affected by historic forced adoption practices in England and Wales. The policy, which operated for decades in the mid-20th century, involved babies being taken from their mothers and placed for adoption, according to reporting from multiple outlets. The BBC says the practice occurred between 1949 and 1976, when thousands of babies were removed from their mothers. The Guardian reports that an estimated 185,000 babies were taken from unmarried mothers and placed for adoption during the same period.
The announcement follows years of campaigning by survivors and campaigners. The Independent reports that the Prime Minister’s statement will take place after a meeting with campaigners at Downing Street. The Guardian also notes that two weeks earlier the Church of England issued an apology for its role in forced adoptions, telling survivors that “shame is ours.”
Across the coverage, the focus is on the government’s acknowledgement of harm done to mothers and children by adoption policies used at the time, with Starmer’s apology described as the remaining major unresolved issue ahead of the end of his term in office, according to the reports.
