Third Way | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Leader | Patrick Harrington |
| Founder | Patrick Harrington |
| Founded | 17 March 1990 (1990-03-17) |
| Dissolved | 2006 (2006) (as political party) |
| Ideology | Anti-capitalism[1] Anti-communism[1] Euroscepticism[2] |
| Regional affiliation | Ulster Third Way (formerly) |
| Colours | Green |
| Website | |
thirdway | |
TheThird Way is athink tank and formerpolitical party in theUnited Kingdom, founded on the 17 March 1990. Third Way has supported a system offederalism for the UK[3] with the possibility of a future break-up,[4] anisolationist foreign policy,[5] environmentalism,[6] the wide use ofSwiss-style citizens' initiatives[7] anddistributism.[8]
It should not be confused with theThird Way ideology promoted byTony Blair,Bill Clinton andGerhard Schröder, which it condemns as a revised form ofsocial democracy.[9] It is not related to the ChristianThird Way magazine.
Third Way describes itself as:
a think-tank dedicated to creating a society based on Justice, Community and Individual freedom against one that is based on Greed, Globalisation and Tyranny.
Third Way stands against all forms of social injustice, racism and religious bigotry. Third Way is for everyone. We promote positive ideas and apart from this website also publish printed material. We advocate Direct Democracy along Swiss lines using referenda and citizens’ initiatives.
We support small business and co-operative ownership.[10]
The formerNorthern Ireland wing of the party,Ulster Third Way (U3W) advocated forNorthern Irish independence from both the UK andRepublic of Ireland before its dissolution in 2005. U3W also supported the re-establishment of theConfederate States of America andneo-confederatism, although it is not clear if this opinion was shared with the rest of the Third Way.[11]
Third Way supported the English Lobby, a pressure group and electoral coalition founded in 2004 that campaigns for the recognition ofSt George's Day and the creation of anEnglish parliament.
Third Way supporters assisted in the foundation of the trade unionSolidarity – The Union for British Workers.
The Third Way has operated, or is closely associated with, various publications and websites, including:
In 1999, new electoral organisation theNational Liberal Party was formed by Patrick Harrington andGraham Williamson and registered asNational Liberal Party – The Third Way with theElectoral Commission. It fought parliamentary elections inHornchurch (in 2001 and 2005),Belfast West (2001, asUlster Third Way),Upminster (2005) andEastleigh (2010) but obtained below 1% of the vote in each case.
In the2014 European elections, the National Liberal Party stood with 8 candidates in theLondon constituency,[12] gaining 6,736 votes.[13]
