This explains Blair's increasing resort to identity politics, such as women's issues, gay rights, etc. The press has lauded the presence of women MPs and openly gay members as if this compensated in some way for Labour's right-wing politics. But the silence that met the Bill is not a case of fooling all of the people all of the time. There is unanimity between all the major parties on questions of social policy. What motivated more humane conceptions of justice for children, and why they were maintained for many decades, is never examined.
Children are now a specific target for the shift in official attitudes.
The very concept of childhood is under attack. One reason is their vulnerability. No other section of the population is so dependent on the attitudes of society as a whole for their lives and well being. They could be hung for minor offences, beaten, jailed and transported. They were sent to work as young as six, often in the harshest environment.