Keir Starmer issues formal state apology over forced adoption scandal

After decades of campaigning by those affected, PM says state ‘did not do enough to protect’ mothers and children

Keir Starmer has formally apologised for the British state’s role in historic forced adoptions after decades of campaigning by mothers and children affected.

The government said the “state did not do enough to protect mothers, children and families”, that it “failed to prevent harm from continuing” and that it bore responsibility for funding and legitimising the system that allowed the adoptions to take place.