Nicola Sturgeon to apologise over historic forced adoption scandal

Nicola Sturgeon will issue an official apology after 60,000 women were forced to give up their babies for adoption, the Daily Record understands.

The First Minister’s apology will be one of her last acts in office and is expected next week.

Tens of thousands of mums had their babies adopted simply because they were unmarried.

The coercion, covering the 1950s through to the 1970s, caused lasting heartache and campaigners have demanded an apology from the state.

Many of the mothers have died and will not hear the apology, which is expected to cover the mums, dads and children affected.

Monica Lennon, a Labour MSP, who has campaigned for an apology, said: "If this is true it will be a significant moment in Scotland.

"Tens of thousands of women in Scotland had their babies taken from them as a result of forced adoption practices.

"We refer to this as a historic act but the injustice has never faded for those affected.

“It is right that Nicola Sturgeon makes a formal apology on behalf of the Scottish Government. We cannot fully learn from the past unless we acknowledge it.

“I pay tribute to all the campaigners who have fought for a historic forced adoption apology. This will be an incredibly emotional event.”

In a Holyrood debate last year led by Lennon, the MSP spoke about the campaigning efforts of Marion McMillan, whose son was taken for adoption from a mother and baby home in 1967.

In a powerful statement relayed to MSPs by Lennon, McMillan, who has terminal cancer, said: "Mothers spent their lives searching for the babies they were forced to hand over.

A spokesperson for the Movement for an Adoption Apology in Scotland said: "We are encouraged to hear this news. A sincere apology can provide comfort and validation to a lot of mothers and families who have suffered in silence for a very long time.

"We hope that any apology will include all family members who were affected and guarantee concrete measures that will improve their wellbeing. Our recommendations to the government included mental health services as well as reform to access to records."

SNP MSP Emma Roddick said: "Addressing historic injustices such as forced adoption practices is incredibly important – it sends a powerful message to those impacted by such shameful actions from Scotland’s collective past and will hopefully provide some comfort to them.

“For the tens of thousands of parents and children affected by forced adoption practices, an apology from their First Minister and Scottish Government will be a hugely emotional moment. I am really heartened to hear of this plan.

“Although we cannot right the wrongs of the past, it is deeply important that we recognise the heartbreak tens of thousands of Scottish women have experienced in their lives and try to set the record straight by condemning what was a disgraceful scandal and breach of human rights.”

Tory MSP Miles Briggs: “The national apology will be an important moment for Scotland and the UK and all parties affected.

"The apology must present the start of the wider development of bespoke support services. A national apology cannot right the wrongs of the past, but for all those who have suffered lifelong trauma it is the start of the healing process.

"It’s been a honour to work with campaigners and cross-party with Monica Lennon to help make this happen."

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP said:

“To have your child taken away from you is simply unimaginable, and for years these women have had to bear the devastating trauma of that deep injustice.

“An apology will not heal those wounds, but it can go some way towards acknowledging the wrongs of the past and validating the suffering of the mothers concerned.”

Around a decade ago Australia issued the world's first government formal apology for forced adoption.

The Canadian senate recommended four years ago that the federal government issue an apology to 300,000 women.

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “Ministers are acutely aware of the trauma and heartbreak caused by historical adoption practices, having heard the direct testimony of mothers, fathers, sons and daughters who suffered greatly as a result of children being unnecessarily taken away from mothers and placed for adoption.

“We have been working with campaigners to consider next steps, and the First Minister is expected to update Parliament on Wednesday 22 March.”

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