In a historical apology, United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer acknowledged the forced adoption of approximately 185,000 babies from unmarried mothers between 1949 and 1976, describing it as a "blot on our nation's past." The government, in collaboration with Christian churches, had overseen a system that coerced and shamed mothers, often teenagers, into giving up their children. Starmer expressed deep regret for the state's failure to protect families from harm during this period. His speech comes weeks after the Church of England apologized for its role in running "mother and baby homes" where pregnant women were separated from their children, often against their will. The government plans to spend £4 million ($5.3m) to help people access their adoption records, fund secondary services that reconnect relatives, and seek research on the long-term effects on victims. This systemic practice was prevalent across local authorities, voluntary and faith-based institutions, and health and social care services. The 2022 parliamentary committee documented inhumane treatment of mothers-to-be, including deliberate withholding of painkillers during labor and ripping babies away from sobbing mothers. Starmer emphasized that the shame lies with the state and those responsible for this practice, echoing remarks made by Archbishop of Canterbury Sarah Mullally in the Church of England's recent apology. Other countries such as Australia and Ireland have also apologized for their own history of forced adoptions.