This is especially true in the UK, but I think the surprisingly under-appreciated, under-explored fact of western democracies for the past 50+ years is that ult

This is especially true in the UK, but I think the surprisingly under-appreciated, under-explored fact of western democracies for the past 50+ years is that ultimate power truly lies with the mainstream press and what they're willing to cover, and whose politics they're willing to tolerate. There is no institution more powerful in shaping the minds of the public, and they do very frequently act as a monolith, especially in the UK.