UK Parliament committee examining human rights issues
Keir Starmer is delivering a formal state apology in Parliament for historical forced adoption practices, spanning 1949–1976, with about 185,000 babies affected. The move follows campaign pressures and parallel apologies in Wales and Scotland; Northern Ireland is expected to follow after a public inquiry. A £4 million support package accompanies the apology.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer is preparing a formal statement in the House of Commons acknowledging the state's role in forced adoptions and apologising to survivors. The move follows years of campaigning and parallels actions by church and international peers. The apology aligns with earlier steps by devolved governments and amid a broader reckoning with historic practices in the UK.
The Church of England has issued a formal apology for its role in forced adoptions carried out in mother-and-baby homes between 1949 and 1976, acknowledging pain and stigma. Survivors and campaigners scrutinise the response, with fresh details about the scale of involvement and the path toward redress.