Suffolk forced adoptees don't accept Keir Starmer apology

Thursday was a pivotal day for all those who have been campaigning tirelessly for years, from mothers who were forced to give up their children to the adoptees, all grown up, who can now speak for themselves.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer apologised to the House of Commons on behalf of the government to all those who were affected by the forced adoption scandal, from adoptees to their mother. Addressing the women directly, the PM said: “The shame was never yours. The shame was ours.”

It is estimated that 185,000 babies were taken from their mothers in the 1950s, ‘60s and ‘70s – the ‘baby scoop era’ as it came to be known.

The Prime Minister addresses the House of Commons, apologising for the government's role in the forced adoption scandal. (Image: House of Commons)

Prime Minster Sir Keir Starmer meeting with campaigners to discuss historical forced adoption in 10 Downing Street, London, before making an apology in the House of Commons for historical enforced adoptions. An estimated 185,000 babies of unmarried (Image: Isabel Infantes /PA Wire)

Prime Minster Sir Keir Starmer meeting with campaigners to discuss historical forced adoption in 10 Downing Street, London, before making an apology in the House of Commons for historical enforced adoptions. (Image: Isabel Infantes /PA Wire)

Campaigners pose for a photograph after a meeting with Prime Minster Sir Keir Starmer to discuss historical forced adoption in 10 Downing Street, London, before making an apology in the House of Commons for historical enforced adoptions. (Image: Isabel Infantes /PA Wire)

This was a time when falling pregnant out of wedlock was a stain on the whole family, and many women were sent away to give birth in secret in mother and baby homes.

The Church of England helped run, or was responsible for, roughly 100 such homes, and has already apologised for its role.

Two adopted people from Suffolk shared their stories, saying that this apology fell far short of the trauma they and their mothers suffered.

Now, Sir Keir Starmer, too, has said he and the government are “profoundly sorry” to all those affected.

However, for Reg Barker from Mildenhall, the apology fell short.

“It’s only words, it’s as simple as that,” said Mr Barker, 66.

 Mr Barker’s mother, Vera Tarr, was 47 when she gave birth to him in Bristol. She did not want to give him up and travelled across the city every day to give her son his lunchtime feed – until she was abruptly informed that his adoptive parents were coming to collect him the next day.

• READ MORE: Suffolk children taken from their mothers hit back at church
• Church of England sorry for forced adoptions telling survivors ‘shame is ours’

While Reg and his birth mother exchanged letters, they never met in person again. (Image: Lucy Taylor)

Reg's birth mother, Vera Tarr, pictured in the 1930s before he was born. She would have been in her 20s here, and was 47 when she gave birth. (Image: Reg Barker)

Reg was adopted at the age of three. (Image: Reg Barker)

The first three years of Reg Barker's life were spent at the Victoria Gibbs children's home in Bristol. (Image: Reg Barker)

Reg Barker pictured as a toddler. (Image: Reg Barker)

Reg Barker first realised he was adopted at the age of 18, when he one a free holiday and needed to apply for a passport. (Image: Lucy Taylor)

Reg grew up in Mildenhall with his adoptive parents – who he said were “amazing” – but when he realised he was adopted, he traced Vera.

While they exchanged letters, Vera never felt able to meet him in person, such was the trauma she had suffered.

“If my mum were alive, she’d be saying exactly the same as me – she’d be saying, it doesn’t mean anything,” said Mr Barker.

“He read from a script, and it didn’t change anything. It didn’t mean anything to me.”