Agitation Nation™

Written By Stewart Ainslie

Comment

UK politics and the impact of algorithmic news distribution on reactionary debate and critical thought. Stewart Ainslie suggests that we live in an Agitation Nation™ and ponders if this has always been the case.

Agitation Nation - Definition:

A political landscape defined by the continuation of public agitation in place of governance.

Some context

I was born in the UK under the premiership of Margaret Thatcher (1979–1990) and my first memories of a Prime Minister were under John Major (1990–1997).

I was too young to vote during Tony Blair’s time in office (1997, 2001 or 2005). My first experience of a Prime Minister whom the public hadn’t directly voted for was Gordon Brown (2007–2010). Brown succeeded Blair as leader of the Labour party on 24 June 2007. (He ran unopposed in a party leadership election).

I first voted in 2010. The less said about that hung parliament the better. 

A rotating cast

Between 2010 and the time of writing the UK has had six Prime Ministers.

(We didn’t always vote for them. See notes at end.)

Brexit

Let’s begin with the 2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum. Not because it was the first time I perceived the Agitation Nation™, but because it was the first time I was involved in grassroots politics in a meaningful way.

Brexit revealed a nation primed for permanent agitation.

Alongside collaborator Tom Spencer, I learned firsthand how emotionally attached the general public were to their viewpoints. I learnt how agitated I was too!

We highlighted an issue in 2016, one that surprised us both. It was incredibly easy to post, tweet or @ (mention) an MP through social media. It wasn’t particularly easy for members of the public to contact their constituency MP if they:

  • Didn’t know who their MP was

  • Weren’t aware of their constituency

  • Had not engaged with a member of parliament before

Following the Brexit vote result both traditional media and the ‘new’ social media landscape exploded in the UK. Tom and I quietly built a simple web app. We called it Bre-Entry.

The next piece examines the systems and incentives that turned political discourse into a permanent state of emotional mobilisation.

Publications, Agitation Nation.

Full theory in development.

 
 

Notes:

 

Agitation Nation™ - Definition:

A political landscape defined by the continuation of public agitation in place of governance.

—Coined by: Stewart Ainslie (May 2026).

 
 

UK Prime Ministers between 2010–2026

David Cameron (CON) • May 2010 – July 2016

Elected through general election (GE) #54 in May (hung) 2010 and #55 in May 2015.

Theresa May (CON) • July 2016 – July 2019

Initially selected by Conservative party. Subsiquently elected through GE #56 in June 2017.

Boris Johnson (CON) • July 2019 – September 2022

Initially selected by Conservative party. Subsiquently elected through GE #57 in December 2019.

Liz Truss (CON) • September 2022 – October 2022

Selected by Conservative party members (no GE).

Rishi Sunak (CON) • October 2022 – July 2024

Selected by Conservative party members (no GE).

Keir Starmer (LAB) • July 2024 – Present

Elected through GE #58 in July 2024.

 
Stewart Ainslie • May 17th 2026
Stewart Ainslie
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