This quote is important to understand. Many people walk around and purposely ignore what truly is occurring around them. For some, it is because they don't want to believe that "such a thing" is occurring. This quote you will find will hold deep truth in other areas of society and not just with a article about slavery in the UK. There are many people and groups of people who feel they are greater than others because of wealth and power, this mind set is part of the "old guard," this mind set is also coming to an end because of the wealth of self education available via the internet and exposure because of the internet. The "old guard" thrived in this world that hide what they do because of their wealth and power/social status, it is coming to an end. There are still some newspapers in existence that will not go against certain people because of their social status.
One of the more recognizable names that this happen with is Bill Cosby (that's a good link for an example) who recently became exposed by social media, weather you believe it or not "something went on," just by the shear numbers of woman coming forward with a report about drugging and then raping. When you knowingly drug someone with the purpose of having sex with them, that is rape, many people confuse rape and what or how about it comes about. He had complete "intent" and it is not a misunderstanding what consensual sex is.
Many more exposures will come to light soon as people become educated via the internet.The old guard continues to fight this and is some what "shock" and this evolving society and the way people think. Many of the old guard exists in the Middle East (predominately). It is more of a mind set than an age thing. But it came from the "baby boomers" and generations before them. This does not mean if your a "baby boomer" that you are part of the old guard.