Campaigners and lawyers are calling on the Scottish and UK governments to compensate victims of forced adoption, following Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's formal apology in the House of Commons on Thursday. Patrick McGuire, senior partner at Thompsons Solicitors Scotland, welcomed the apology but stressed that financial redress and long-term support are now essential.
Lawyer Calls for Compensation and Support
McGuire said: "Fine words from both governments is no substitute for fast and effective action. We need to see proper help and support put in place for victims, along the lines of provisions that were put in place for those affected by infected blood. That means a proper scheme for medical and psychological support and a proper financial compensation scheme." The Scottish Government issued its own apology in 2023, three years before Westminster's.
Victims Describe Lifelong Trauma
Campaigner Marion McMillan, who lost her first-born son to forced adoption at age 17, described the systematic coercion of unmarried mothers. Speaking on BBC's Radio Scotland Breakfast, she said: "We were like lambs to the slaughter. We had no voice, and we just did as we were told." She accused authorities of "relentless brainwashing" and called the scandal Scotland's "hidden history." McMillan added: "The trauma is there constantly. You feel utterly worthless and you're absolutely broken."
Prime Minister's Apology
In his Commons statement, Sir Keir described forced adoption as "a stain on our history," acknowledging that "tens of thousands of mothers, children and families" were failed by local authorities, faith organisations, and health services. He told victims: "The shame was never yours, the shame is ours." Mothers were "coerced, bullied, or misled into feeling that they had no choice" but to give up their children.
Scale of the Scandal
An estimated 60,000 unmarried women in Scotland were forced to give up their babies for adoption in the 1950s, 60s, and 70s. In England and Wales, around 185,000 babies of unmarried mothers were adopted between 1949 and 1976.
Government Responses
A Scottish Government spokesperson highlighted actions taken since their 2023 apology, including £200,000 over five years for Health in Mind to provide trauma-informed peer support and counselling, and £270,000 to Birthlink for the Adoption Contact Register and intermediary services. Access to records has also been strengthened through National Records of Scotland and the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service, offering free access and practical support. The spokesperson said: "Throughout our engagement, people with lived experience have consistently highlighted the importance of recognition of the harm caused, access to records, support for recovery and assistance with family tracing and reunions."
A UK Government spokesperson said the £4 million provided to support affected people is not for direct compensation but has been delivered in consultation with campaigner groups to prioritise access to adoption records, family reconnection services, and mental health counselling.
