‘Societal failures’: Welsh government apologised for previous forced adoptions

After almost 50 years the Welsh government have issued an apology to the unmarried mothers who were forced to give up their children between 1949 and 1976.

This week, the Welsh government invited people affected by the historical practices to the Senedd in Cardiff Bay for a formal apology for the ‘societal failures’ which led to around 185,000 children being taken from their mothers in England and Wales.

The practice predates devolution in Wales. The Senedd – then known as the Welsh Assembly – did not sit until 1999, but the Welsh government say forced adoption practices have had a ‘lasting legacy’ on all who experienced them. One of the women who was forced to give up her child said she was left grieving and made to live a secret life.

Ann Keen, who was MP for Brentford and Isleworth between 1997 and 2010 and Health Minister under Gordon Brown’s government, attended the Senedd on Tuesday.

Claiming that she was told giving up her son would be ‘for the best’, she stated that ‘[s]adly this was not the case’.

Ms Keen said: ‘It was horrible, shameful, and left me grieving and feeling unable to talk to anyone. I was forced to live a life that remained a secret.’

She said she became a nurse before entering politics to provide ‘the sort of dignity and social justice to patients that was denied to me when I was at my most vulnerable’.

Julie Morgan, the Welsh government’s Deputy Minister for Social Services, also said this week that the impacts of forced adoption were ‘diverse and long lasting’.

At the event on Tuesday, Ms Morgan said: ‘I would like to convey my deepest sympathy and regret to all affected, that due to society failing you, you had to ensure such appalling historical practices in Wales – for this the while of the Welsh government is truly sorry.’

The formal apology comes after Scotland’s former First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, delivered an apology on behalf of the government in Holyrood last month.

As well as Wales and Scotland showcasing their regret that women in their countries had to go through such a harrowing experience, the UK government also voiced its sympathies on the matter.

A spokesperson for the Department of Education said the government agreed that the treatment of unmarried parents during this period ‘was wrong and should not have happened.

‘We are sorry to all those affected by historic adoption practices. We are sorry on behalf of society for what happened. Whilst we cannot undo the past, lessons of the time have been learned and have led to significant changes to legislation and practice.’

Image: bales