Prime Minister Keir Starmer delivered a formal apology in the House of Commons on 2 July 2026, addressing mothers, adult adoptees and their families who were harmed by forced adoption practices in England between 1949 and 1976, with some cases extending beyond that period. Starmer condemned the coercive, bullying and misled methods used by local authorities, voluntary and faith‑based institutions, and health and social care services, including the NHS. He announced government plans to improve access to records, expand support services, create a national online resource for record locating, and launch a testimonial project. The apology aligns with similar actions by Scotland and Wales and welcomes a forthcoming statutory inquiry in Northern Ireland. The statement aimed to acknowledge the state’s failure and begin substantive reforms.
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