MPs Insist on Formal Apology for Forced Adoption Practices
A cross-party group of MPs has issued a stark warning, urging the UK government to deliver a formal and public apology for the state's role in forced adoption practices. The education select committee's report emphasises that many victims are now elderly, making the need for an apology increasingly urgent to correct the public record and alleviate the burdens carried by mothers and adoptees.
Historical Context and Impact
Between 1949 and 1976, an estimated 185,000 babies in England and Wales were taken from unmarried mothers and placed for adoption, driven by a pervasive culture of shame surrounding pregnancy outside marriage. Religious organisations operated most of the mother and baby homes where these women were sent to give birth, with charities and local authorities also involved in funding placements and finding adoptive parents.
Helen Hayes MP, chair of the education select committee, described hearing survivor testimonies as "one of the most moving days I have experienced in parliament." She stated, "Historical forced adoption practices coerced mothers and caused unimaginable trauma for multiple generations of women and profound, often devastating impacts for their children." The report is unequivocal, demanding that the government urgently offer an unqualified apology for its role in shaping these harmful practices.
International Precedents and Government Response
In 2023, the Welsh and Scottish governments issued formal apologies for forced adoption practices, and the head of the Catholic church in England and Wales apologised in 2016. However, the UK government has yet to follow suit, though children's minister Josh MacAlister indicated it is "actively considering" an apology, noting it must be delivered by a senior official to reflect the gravity of the injustice.
Countries like Ireland and Australia have implemented financial compensation schemes after apologising for similar coerced removals. The campaign group Movement for an Adoption Apology (MAA) has even threatened legal action over the UK government's failure to provide meaningful redress.
Recommendations and Organisational Accountability
The committee's recommendations extend beyond an apology, advocating for better access to records, trauma-informed healthcare for survivors, and regular consultation opportunities with the government. It criticised organisations such as The Salvation Army and Barnardo's for evidence that "fell far short of acknowledging their roles in forced adoptions," appearing to justify rather than accept responsibility. The report urged these charities to avoid "hiding behind historical societal norms" and hoped a government apology would prompt reflection on their legacy.
Survivor Perspectives and Ongoing Harm
Sally Ells, 59, a cofounder of the Adult Adoptee Movement, testified about the lasting impact, stating, "We need a meaningful government apology to correct the harmful narrative that has been spun that we were unwanted and that we came from unfit mothers." Adopted in 1967, she described an "immense fear of rejection that never left" and confirmed her separation was forced after tracking down her biological family.
Ells highlighted that the injury persists, with mothers and adult adoptees more likely to experience serious mental health issues like post-traumatic stress disorder. "There is an enduring harm. It's not historic, it's not in the past – it's still happening now," she emphasised.
A government spokesperson responded, "This abhorrent practice should never have taken place, and our deepest sympathies are with all those affected. We take this issue extremely seriously and continue to engage with those affected to provide support."
