Forced adoption survivors to get full apology from UK government, says Phillipson | Adoption

Downing Street will make a full apology on behalf of the state to those affected by historic forced adoption in England, the education secretary has confirmed.

Giving evidence to MPs on the education select committee on Wednesday, Bridget Phillipson described it as a “shameful period” in the UK’s history.

He said the Prime Minister had more to say but told MPs that everyone whose lives were affected by forced adoption would receive the apology they “deeply deserve”.

Phillipson’s remarks followed an earlier report from the committee that said a formal, public apology was needed to correct the public record and reduce the burden felt by many mothers and adoptees.

He called on ministers to first apologize and begin working on statements with survivor groups as soon as possible.

In his opening speech to MPs, Phillipson said: “I know you and the committee will want to hear that this government will soon make a full apology on behalf of the state to everyone affected by historic forced adoption in England.

“The Prime Minister will have more to say about this shameful period in our history, which will reflect the seriousness of what has happened. But let me say, here and now, to all those affected, you will certainly receive the apology you deserve.”

Between 1949 and 1976, an estimated 185,000 babies were taken from unmarried mothers and given up for adoption in England and Wales as a result of the culture of shame surrounding pregnancy outside marriage.

Religious organizations operated most of the mother and baby homes where pregnant women were sent to give birth. Charities and local authorities were involved in financing placements and finding adoptive parents.

The Welsh and Scottish governments formally apologized for their forced adoption practices in 2023, and the head of the Catholic church in England and Wales issued an apology in 2016.

Ireland and Australia have introduced financial compensation schemes after apologizing for the forcible removal of children from unmarried mothers.

Campaigners who have worked for decades to shine a light on the injustice of forced adoption have welcomed the government’s promise of a full apology and called for support for those who have suffered as a result.

Sally Ells, co-founder of the Adult Adoption Movement, said: “We hope our apology is meaningful and provides compensation for survivors. “There have been lifelong impacts for all of us. Adoptees’ identities have been erased. Our medical and family histories have been erased.

“We had no protections after adoption. There are a significant number of adoptees who experience mistreatment in adoptive families. We have called for specialized mental health support and improved access to adoption records.

“We also wanted adult adoptees to be involved in future policymaking on adoption, because we’ve been through it. We know what the pitfalls are.”

Diana Defries, chief executive of the Adoption Apology Movement, said: “Any apology needs to have the right structure. It’s about taking responsibility, acknowledging the harm and being willing to do something about it.”

Defries, whose daughter was 16 when she was forcibly adopted, added: “No amount of money can fix what happened to me and the mess I was left in afterwards.” He called for the money to be invested in support services instead.

Emily Frith, chief executive of Adoption UK, added: “This confirmation is long overdue and comes after years of campaigning by those affected. But an apology without action is not enough. Adult adoptees continue to face barriers to accessing therapy, tracing birth relatives and obtaining birth and medical records.”

“The government must now turn words into action through meaningful redress, clear departmental accountability and a commitment to involve adoptees in shaping policies that affect them.”

A 2022 report by the UK government’s joint committee on human rights recommended ministers apologize to unmarried women who were “forced” into unwanted adoptions.

Responding to the report, the then Conservative government said it was sorry “on behalf of society” for the treatment of women but that a formal apology was inappropriate “due to the state’s failure to actively support these practices”.