ABSTRACT
This chapter examines Harry Hendrick's view in relation to the way that conceptions of childhood treat innocence and, above all, sexual innocence. The images of the child sexuality which underpin the policies of Blair's Britain were in place by the time of Lloyd George. The conflation of innocence with lack of knowledge, and specifically with lack of knowledge about sex, has a long history. Historically, the western Judaeo-Christian tradition has agonised over the nature of childhood innocence because of its theological implications for adults and its practical implications for parents. One of the most influential works on 19th century sexuality is that of Michel Foucault. He makes the point that 'the working class managed for a long time to escape the deployment of "sexuality"', and outlines how the deployment of sexuality will eventually replace the previous regulatory techniques referred to as the 'deployment of alliance'.
