London: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has formally apologised to thousands of unmarried mothers who were forced to give up their babies for adoption between 1949 and 1976, describing the practice as “a stain on our country’s history”.

Speaking in Parliament, Starmer acknowledged the grave injustice suffered by women who were pressured, intimidated or misled into surrendering their newborn children solely because they were unmarried. He said many had been left with no real choice but to part with their babies, calling it a shameful chapter in Britain’s past.

Official figures show that around 185,000 children were adopted in England and Wales during the period from 1949 to 1976. Campaigners say a substantial number of those adoptions involved children who were taken from their unmarried mothers against the women’s wishes.

Offering a heartfelt apology on behalf of the government, Starmer said: “To every person affected, we are truly sorry.” He acknowledged that the policy caused lasting psychological and emotional harm to thousands of women, children and families, with many continuing to live with its consequences decades later.

Survivors and advocacy groups have spent years campaigning for recognition of the injustice and an official apology. The Prime Minister’s statement is being widely viewed as a significant acknowledgement of the suffering endured by those affected and an important step towards addressing a painful legacy in British history.