In the 1930s a group of folks with far right, outright racist ideologies, create a populist movement and somehow transform or take over established political entities. They play to the emotions of those who feel left behind, thus creating a nationalist agenda.

Surprise surprise, they win an election.

Upon taking office, they waste no time in putting their policies in place with zero regard for things such as rule of law, individual rights or human rights. Simultaneously, they enrich themselves from government deals and outright theft.

Anyone who openly opposes them is castigated, arrested, or shot. In an attempt to change the demographics of their country, countless persons are put on railway trains taken to far off lands. After a short period of time very few remain who dare speak out against them. With this unrestrained power, they figure they should push the envelope and threaten to take over other countries with brute force.

Some countries speak out against these flagrant threats against national sovereignty. Somehow. many other countries decide to take the route of appeasement, claim neutrality, hoping “this too shall pass”.

Effectively, the world hears the deafening “silence of the lambs”.

That silence is interpreted as compliance, and within short order the aggressors use false pretence to invade countries in their proximity on September 9,1939 and lay claim to the natural resources. By the time the world truly wakes up, nearly an entire continent has been captured and colonised. Some six years later, 80 million persons have died and centuries old empires have now been broken beyond repair.

The lesson that is supposedly learnt is that appeasing bullies does not work well for anyone in their proximity.

Same playbook

Some 90 years later, a small group began yet another populist movement based on racist and national identity. They gain traction, take over a long established political entity and go on to win an election. Like their predecessors, they too enact their policies with zero regard for rule of law, individual rights or human rights. They too enrich themselves off of government contracts and outright theft.

Using the same near-century old playbook, many who openly oppose them are castigated, arrested and some, even shot in cold blood. In attempts to change the demographics of their country, countless individuals are taken from their homes, schools, work places, out of their vehicles, bound and chained and flown to remote countries not of their origin.

After a short period of time there are very few remaining who dare speak out openly against them. With this unrestrained power, they figure they should push the envelope and well, threaten to take over other countries with brute force.

On January 3, 2026 they used false pretences to invade a country in their proximity and then laid claim to its natural resources. With no one opposing them and feeling emboldened, they then publicly begin to lay claim to other territories in their region.

Once again the world takes no action. Once again the world adapts appeasement. Once again the world hears the deafening “silence of the lambs”.

• Christopher Famous is a government backbencher and the MP for Devonshire East