Motion text
That this House recognises the great injustice, suffering and lifetime of pain caused to mothers and their children separated by forced adoption in the UK in the three decades after the Second World War, when young unmarried mothers were coerced into handing over their new-born children, and apologises for it; recognises that it is wrong to say that those mothers chose to give up their babies for adoption, when there was no choice and they were actively pressured to do so by doctors, midwives and other professionals; deplores the shameful practices that denied those mothers their fundamental rights to love and care for their children; pays tribute to the tireless campaign for justice by the Movement for an Adoption Apology; acknowledges that the State and those acting on its behalf allowed or encouraged abuses of adoption practices; unconditionally apologises for the policies and practices that allowed this injustice to occur and for the pain that was caused; calls on the Government to issue an unconditional and comprehensive apology to all those affected and to endorse their demand for recognition and justice; calls on the Government to ensure all those affected receive the help and support they need, including specialist counselling services; and further calls on the Government to establish an inquiry so that the full truth can be told and this grave injustice can be fully recognised and understood.
Signatures (74)
The first 6 Members who have signed to support the motion are the sponsors. The primary sponsor is generally the person who tabled the motion and has responsibility for it. The date shown is when the Member signed the motion.
Harman, Ms Harriet
Labour
Signed on
26 May 2021
Cherry, Joanna
Scottish National Party
Signed on
26 May 2021
Lewell-Buck, Mrs Emma
Labour
Signed on
26 May 2021
Abrahams, Debbie
Labour
Signed on
26 May 2021
Duffield, Rosie
Labour
Signed on
26 May 2021
Hayes, Helen
Labour
Signed on
26 May 2021
In addition to the sponsors, the following Members have signed to support the motion.
Eagle, Maria
Labour
Signed on
26 May 2021
Elliott, Julie
Labour
Signed on
26 May 2021
McKinnell, Catherine
Labour
Signed on
26 May 2021
Ferrier, Margaret
Independent
Signed on
27 May 2021
Gwynne, Andrew
Labour
Signed on
27 May 2021
Whitley, Mick
Labour
Signed on
27 May 2021
Shannon, Jim
Democratic Unionist Party
Signed on
27 May 2021
MacAskill, Kenny
Alba Party
Signed on
27 May 2021
Hanna, Claire
Social Democratic & Labour Party
Signed on
27 May 2021
Barker, Paula
Labour
Signed on
27 May 2021
Lloyd, Tony
Labour
Signed on
27 May 2021
Jardine, Christine
Liberal Democrat
Signed on
27 May 2021
Cooper, Rosie
Labour
Signed on
27 May 2021
Antoniazzi, Tonia
Labour
Signed on
27 May 2021
Vaz, Valerie
Labour
Signed on
27 May 2021
Eagle, Dame Angela
Labour
Signed on
27 May 2021
Johnson, Kim
Labour
Signed on
27 May 2021
Wilson, Munira
Liberal Democrat
Signed on
27 May 2021
Fovargue, Yvonne
Labour
Signed on
27 May 2021
Malhotra, Seema
Labour
Signed on
27 May 2021
Hardy, Emma
Labour
Signed on
27 May 2021
Maskell, Rachael
Labour
Signed on
27 May 2021
Stephens, Chris
Scottish National Party
Signed on
27 May 2021
Ali, Rushanara
Labour
Signed on
27 May 2021
Farry, Stephen
Alliance
Signed on
27 May 2021
Mearns, Ian
Labour
Signed on
27 May 2021
Slaughter, Andy
Labour
Signed on
27 May 2021
Hodge, Dame Margaret
Labour
Signed on
27 May 2021
McDonald, Stuart C
Scottish National Party
Signed on
27 May 2021
Brennan, Kevin
Labour
Signed on
27 May 2021
Sharma, Mr Virendra
Labour
Signed on
27 May 2021
Whitford, Dr Philippa
Scottish National Party
Signed on
27 May 2021
Sultana, Zarah
Labour
Signed on
27 May 2021
Dorans, Allan
Scottish National Party
Signed on
27 May 2021
Mishra, Navendu
Labour
Signed on
7 June 2021
Webbe, Claudia
Independent
Signed on
7 June 2021
Lucas, Caroline
Green Party
Signed on
7 June 2021
O'Hara, Brendan
Scottish National Party
Signed on
7 June 2021
Sheppard, Tommy
Scottish National Party
Signed on
7 June 2021
McDonnell, John
Labour
Signed on
7 June 2021
Fellows, Marion
Scottish National Party
Signed on
7 June 2021
Blackford, Ian
Scottish National Party
Signed on
7 June 2021
Corbyn, Jeremy
Independent
Signed on
7 June 2021
Chamberlain, Wendy
Liberal Democrat
Signed on
7 June 2021
Huq, Dr Rupa
Labour
Signed on
7 June 2021
Wilson, Sammy
Democratic Unionist Party
Signed on
7 June 2021
Williams, Hywel
Plaid Cymru
Signed on
7 June 2021
Hobhouse, Wera
Liberal Democrat
Signed on
7 June 2021
Saville Roberts, Liz
Plaid Cymru
Signed on
7 June 2021
Osborne, Kate
Labour
Signed on
7 June 2021
Crawley, Angela
Scottish National Party
Signed on
7 June 2021
Lake, Ben
Plaid Cymru
Signed on
14 June 2021
Burgon, Richard
Labour
Signed on
21 June 2021
Cameron, Dr Lisa
Scottish National Party
Signed on
22 June 2021
Benn, Hilary
Labour
Signed on
28 June 2021
Oswald, Kirsten
Scottish National Party
Signed on
28 June 2021
Brown, Alan
Scottish National Party
Signed on
28 June 2021
Ribeiro-Addy, Bell
Labour
Signed on
28 June 2021
Hollern, Kate
Labour
Signed on
28 June 2021
Rees, Christina
Labour
Signed on
28 June 2021
Begum, Apsana
Labour
Signed on
28 June 2021
Girvan, Paul
Democratic Unionist Party
Signed on
28 June 2021
Timms, Stephen
Labour
Signed on
28 June 2021
Spellar, John
Labour
Signed on
28 June 2021
Grady, Patrick
Scottish National Party
Signed on
30 June 2021
Cooper, Daisy
Liberal Democrat
Signed on
6 July 2021
Callaghan, Amy
Scottish National Party
Signed on
8 July 2021
De Cordova, Marsha
Labour
Signed on
18 October 2021
There are no withdrawn signatures for this motion.