The Great British Gaslighting: How Ignorance, Media Manipulation, and Political Illiteracy are Strangling Our Democracy

There’s a sickness in Britain, and it’s not just confined to the underfunded NHS wards or the classrooms bursting at the seams. It’s in our heads, our conversations, and the stories we tell ourselves about who we are. We’ve been gaslit by successive governments, from the austerity measures of Cameron and Osborne to the divisive Brexit campaign spearheaded by Johnson and Farage, manipulated by a media ecosystem dominated by billionaires like Rupert Murdoch and the Barclay brothers, and failed by an education system that’s left us politically illiterate. This isn’t a bug in the system; it’s the system working as intended.

Let’s start with the wilful ignorance that’s crept into every corner of our national psyche. It’s not just that people don’t know; it’s that many don’t want to know. Britain’s past—its colonial violence, its systemic inequalities—is too often reduced to nostalgic fantasies of empire and the Blitz spirit. Confronting these truths would mean reevaluating the foundations of our national identity, and for too many, that’s a step too far. It’s easier to cling to comforting myths than to reckon with uncomfortable realities. This isn’t unique to Britain; we see similar patterns in the US with the rise of historical revisionism surrounding figures like Trump, or in Hungary under Orbán’s increasingly authoritarian rule, where critical voices are silenced. However, the British context has its own specific flavour tied to its imperial past and its current struggle to define its role in a post-Brexit world.

And who’s encouraging this ignorance? Look no further than our education system. In Britain, we’ve turned political education into an afterthought. Schools teach a sanitised version of history—the glorious victories, the supposed benevolence of empire—while skipping over the ugly truths, such as the atrocities committed in colonies or the brutal suppression of working-class movements. There’s no emphasis on civic engagement or media literacy. How can we expect people to hold power to account when they’re not even taught how power works? This deliberate neglect isn’t incompetence; it’s strategy, mirroring tactics used by authoritarian regimes globally to maintain control. An uninformed electorate is easier to manipulate. As a direct result, we see a political landscape where nuanced debate is replaced by simplistic slogans and emotive appeals.

This is where the media plays its crucial role. Britain’s press isn’t just right-leaning; it’s a propaganda machine for the status quo. Rupert Murdoch’s empire, encompassing The Sun and The Times, alongside the Daily Mail and Daily Telegraph, owned by media barons with vested interests, pump out a daily diet of fear, scapegoating, and distraction. Immigration is framed as a crisis, not a reality of our interconnected world or a source of economic benefit. Climate action is portrayed as a threat to the economy, not a necessity for survival. And every strike for better pay, every protest against injustice, such as those led by groups like Extinction Rebellion or Black Lives Matter, is spun as chaos—never a fight for fairness. This is the oxygen that fuels wilful ignorance, leaving us blaming each other for problems created by those at the top. Thankfully, independent outlets like Novara Media and The Canary are pushing back, providing alternative narratives and in-depth analysis, but their reach remains limited compared to the media giants.

Furthermore, the gaslighting is relentless. We’re told that austerity was necessary, that the 2008 financial crash was caused by overspending, not deregulation, that Brexit was about “taking back control,” even as it hands more power to a select few, and that if the country is struggling now, it’s because of some shadowy “woke agenda,” not years of cuts and mismanagement. Politicians like Rishi Sunak and his predecessors, following in the footsteps of Thatcher’s privatisation drive, shift the narrative so deftly that even those paying attention are left questioning their grip on reality. The real culprits—the politicians cutting essential services, the billionaires hoarding wealth generated by tax breaks and loopholes, the corporations polluting our planet—are shielded from scrutiny. Instead, we’re pointed at scapegoats: migrants, benefit claimants, activists, anyone but those truly responsible.

But this isn’t inevitable. It’s a choice. A choice made by those in power to maintain the status quo at all costs. They’ve created a system where ignorance is cultivated, division is sown, and truth is whatever they say it is. And unless we act, it’s only going to get worse. It is important to note that this isn’t a monolithic block; there are dissenting voices within these institutions, journalists, and even politicians who push back against these trends, but they often face significant obstacles. Organisations like Led By Donkeys do a fantastic job of holding politicians accountable through satire, and their work is widely shared.

So what do we do? We start by educating ourselves and each other. Seek out information beyond the mainstream headlines. Engage with diverse perspectives, even those you disagree with. There are excellent resources available, like openDemocracy and Full Fact, that provide in-depth analysis and fact-checking. We must demand comprehensive political education in schools, a curriculum that teaches students not just how to vote but why it matters, how power operates, and how to critically analyse information. We need to teach media literacy, empowering young people to identify bias, spot misinformation, and understand the influence of media ownership. We can support and build independent media platforms that aren’t beholden to billionaires or political agendas. Subscribe to and share the work of outlets like Byline Times or The Skwawkbox, which prioritise investigative journalism and platform marginalised voices. We can join or support groups like the Media Reform Coalition, which campaigns for a more diverse and democratic media landscape. And we must call out the gaslighting and hold power to account—on the streets, in our communities, and at the ballot box. Participate in peaceful protests, write to your MP, join a political party or campaign group, and most importantly, vote with informed awareness.

The stakes couldn’t be higher. If we let this continue, we’re not just losing our democracy but our ability to imagine something better. It’s time to wake up, Britain. The lies have gone on long enough. This is your call to action: stop being complicit in your own manipulation. Start fighting for a country where truth matters, where power is accountable, and where the people all of us, are in control. We can draw inspiration from other countries that have successfully tackled similar issues. For example, Finland’s emphasis on media literacy in education has helped to create a more informed and resilient citizenry. We can learn from them and adapt their strategies to our own context.