Good Morning Britain viewers were left in disbelief on Friday (July 3) after an emotional interview about forced adoption. Presenters Ranvir Singh and Kate Garraway spoke to former Labour MP Ann Keen, who described the traumatic circumstances under which she lost her newborn son at age 17.
Historical Context of Forced Adoptions
An estimated 185,000 babies were removed from mothers in the three decades following World War Two. Thousands of mothers faced pressure to give up their babies for adoption due to being unmarried, including Ann Keen. Before the interview, Kate Garraway said: "It's absolutely heartbreaking. This happened to a friend of mine actually, and it's devastating."
Ann Keen's Harrowing Account
Ranvir Singh introduced the guest by reading an extract from the government's apology to the mothers: "The shame was never yours, the shame is ours." Ann described the distressing circumstances, saying: "How we were treated was like we were sinners. We had no rights or responsibility for anything."
Ranvir observed: "Even during childbirth, you were in pain as you would be, but you were being told by the midwife that this is your punishment. They were tearing you, essentially, to get the baby out without any help, without any painkillers, as a punishment to you."
Ann continued: "It's unbelievable that happened in an NHS hospital... I was asking for some pain control and they said, 'No, you're not having any pain control because you don't deserve any. You're a bad girl.' I was being stitched without any anesthetic. When I moved, the doctor slapped my leg to say, 'Don't move! You shouldn't be moving!'"
Both Kate and Ranvir were rendered speechless. Ann went on: "You immediately then start to feel that you are in the wrong, because that was a constant feeling to you." Kate later exclaimed as Ann recalled the moment she was kept apart from her son, who was "waiting for his new mummy."
Assault and Reunion
The nurse subsequently grabbed Ann's breast and declared: "You won't be needing this milk. Let's get rid of this now," prompting Ranvir to respond: "It's like an assault." Kate moved to comfort Ann by reminding her that she hadn't willingly given up her child, but had been "forced to." Ann has since been reunited with her son, Mark, who reassured her that she had done nothing wrong.
Viewer Reactions
GMB viewers were equally stunned. One person wrote on X: "What the hell am I hearing! This is barbaric! Dirty stain on the history of Britain this." Another commented: "These poor women having their babies forcibly taken from them and being treated like scum." A third remarked: "What a heartbreaking story." A fourth viewer stated: "Ann Keen's story is horrific."
Good Morning Britain airs weekdays on ITV1 and ITVX at 6am. If you have been affected by historical forced adoption practices, FamilyConnect offers confidential support, including counselling, record tracing and help with reunification, and can be reached on 0300 1800 205 or at familyconnect.org.uk.
