Patrick Antony Harrington (born 24 May 1964) is a far-rightDavid Wade Crane, "Linkages: Political Topography and Networked Topology" in Marsha Kinder, Tara McPherson (eds), Transmedia Frictions: The Digital, the Arts, and the Humanities, p 226 - Matthew Collins, "far-right round up", Hope not hate, 10 July 2015. Retrieved 16 December 2019. British political activist and writer of Irish Catholic family origins, who has published pamphlets by the Social Credit advocate and former editor of the Liverpool Newsletter, Anthony Cooney, about prominent Catholic writers such as G. K. Chesterton, J.R.R. Tolkien and Hilaire Belloc.Anthony Cooney, G. K. Chesterton - One Sword at Least, Third Way Publications, London 1998- Anthony Cooney, Patrick Harrington, David Kerr (Northern Ireland politician), Tolkien and Politics, Third Way Publications, London 2003- Anthony Cooney, Hilaire Belloc: 1870-1953, Third Way Publications, London 1997 He is currently general secretary of Solidarity – The Union for British Workers and a director of the Third Way, a think tank (since 1989).Peter Barberis, John McHugh, Mike Tyldesley, Encyclopedia of British and Irish Political Organizations, p 193, London 2003

He is a committed and lifelong vegetarian. He has two children and lives in Edinburgh.Third Way Biographies, thirdway.info; accessed 1 April 2016.

Ideological development and political position

Although he first came to prominence as a leading member of the National Front in the 1980s, Patrick Harrington claims he has undergone substantial ideological change since he voted to disband the NF in 1989. In his profile on the Third Way website, he cites Rabbi Mayer Schiller as a particular influence on this development. Schiller is the subject of a biography on the Third Way website, although his role in the party is unclear.

In an interview with Wayne John Sturgeon of Alternative Green magazine, Harrington said:"I voted for the disbandment of the National Front in 1989 which I think speaks for itself. Since that time I have worked with my Third Way colleagues for harmony and progress in our country. There are aspects of my involvement with the NF which I deeply regret. I wasted a lot of time trying to move people to more positive, inclusive positions. I should have broken with them earlier. The past, however, is gone and cannot be changed. I have rethought, rejected or refined many of my past positions. This is a process which has led me to where I am now. I hope that people would judge me on my current ideas and actions rather than re-fight the battles of the past.Welcome to Third Way, thirdway.info; accessed 1 April 2016.

Sturgeon has been closely associated with Troy Southgate's various nationalist-anarchist groups, from the National Revolutionary Faction (NRF), nationalbolshevik.com; accessed 23 January 2016. to the New Right,, vivamalta.org; accessed 23 January 2016. which describes itself as "opposed to liberalism, democracy and egalitarianism".Yahoo! Groups: New Right, archive.org; accessed 23 January 2015.

In "I Rejected National Front", an article written for The Voice (a publication aimed at the British Afro-Caribbean community) and apparently published on 13 February 2006 (but reproduced on Third Way's website), Harrington wrote:"Third Way, which I helped form in 1990, advocates harmonious relationships between all communities. Third Way welcomes the vibrant contribution that this variety brings but we are also aware that there can be friction between communities."We must be honest about these difficulties and work to solve problems together in a spirit of unity. Third Way policy is very different from that of the BNP which we have stood against in elections."

General Secretary of Solidarity 2006 to present In January 2006, Harrington was appointed General Secretary of Solidarity. In November 2007, following independently scrutinised elections, he was returned unopposed for a five-year period. He has since been returned unopposed for a second five-year term.

The Union Executive elected in 2012 consists of Harrington (General Secretary), Michelle Harrington, Glen Nicklasson, Graham Williamson, Clive Jefferson and David Kerr (President).Solidarity, gov.uk; accessed 23 January 2016.- See article on Solidarity for more details.

Expulsion from RMT Harrington was expelled from the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) on 27 June 2003Kevin Ovenden, "RMT", Socialist Worker, 5 July 2003, Issue No. 1858 and ascribes his involvement in Solidarity to this. The RMT claimed in a press release that he had joined under a false name and was expelled when his identity was discovered; Harrington responded that he joined under his married name and that he was known to the union by both names and challenged the grounds for expulsion.Kevin Maguire, "Friendly fire", Guardian online, 3 July 2003- Press Complaints Commission: Past Decisions: Mr. Patrick Harrington

He has claimed that the reasons given for his expulsion were a pretext to cover a political motive and accused the RMT of supporting a "New McCarthyism".

Directorship of the Third Way 1990 to present The Third Way think tank (not be confused with the ideas associated with Tony Blair and Bill Clinton) advocates direct democracy along Swiss lines using referendums and citizens' initiatives, and is strongly influenced by Distributism and Social Credit. It supports small business and co-operative ownership, while opposing over-centralised government and promoting decision making at the lowest practical level. It recruits from all religious and ethnic communities. According to accounts filed with the Electoral Commission, in 2004 Third Way had 20 members and a cash flow of approximately £1,400.

In the 2005 general election it fielded two candidates who received 376 votes between them. According to the Electoral Commission searchable database, the registration of Third Way Publications Ltd lapsedElectoral Commission: Report Ref No TP949, gives a registration date of 2 March 2009. Retrieved 11 November 2013. and Ulster Third Way was "voluntarily deregistered" in 2005.Electoral Commission: Report Ref No PP31 records Ulster Third Way registered on 16 February 2001 and deregistered on 2 February 2005; retrieved 11 November 2013.

The National Liberal Party (NLP) was founded in 1999 by Patrick Harrington and Graham Williamson. In 2006, the Third Way registered the name National Liberal Party – The Third Way. Its constitution distinguishes between "Members", "Registered Supporters" and "Supporting Subscribers". It also operates through a number of Limited Companies and Associations.

The 2012 accounts filed with the Electoral Commission do not mention Harrington and reveal membership income of about £400 and total income of about £950.Electoral Commission Ref No.ST0008002: NATIONAL LIBERAL PARTY, The Third Way – Statement of Accounts 2012 (Retrieved 11 November 2013)

Membership of the National Front 1979 to 1989 Polytechnic of North London protests In 1984, Harrington was the subject of protests by students at the Polytechnic of North London (later the University of North London, now part of London Metropolitan University), who picketed his lectures to protest against his being able to study philosophy while a prominent member of the National Front (NF), which he joined in 1979, and deputy editor of its publication NF News. Students argued that his presence made life intolerable for ethnic minority students. Harrington disputed this and insisted on his right to attend lectures. He obtained a court injunction to stop the picketing; the protestors, backed by their students' union, ignored this.Searchlight, June 1984 Two student leaders were sent to jail for 16 days for contempt of a court order preventing them from barring Harrington from college.The Times, 29 November 1984.

In December 1984, Dr David MacDowall, the Polytechnic's director, resigned after pressure from the Inner London Education Authority (ILEA) to make a complaint against Harrington for remarks he made in a radio interview. ILEA said the remarks were racist, which Harrington denied.The Times, 8 December 1984. In his resignation letter, MacDowall admitted that he had acted "in a totally fascistic manner" over the issue, and wished "all the picketing students the best of luck with their campaign".Nigel Copsey, Anti-Fascism in Britain (Macmillan 2000), p. 156 Harrington subsequently faced a college hearing for a television interview in which, in line with NF policy, he questioned the right of black people to citizenship.The Times, 15 December 1984, 19 December 1984.

In January 1985, with final exams approaching, the students' union, Harrington and the Polytechnic administration agreed a deal in which all of Harrington's classes would be taught in an annexe away from the main building. His fellow students boycotted these lectures and many lecturers taught them informally.The Times, 8 January 1985. Harrington eventually graduated with a philosophy degree.For more detail on the Harrington/PNL affair see Copsey, Anti-Fascism in Britain, pp. 155–57

Official National Front In the late 1980s, the National Front underwent a schism. Harrington sided with the Political Soldier group that included Nick Griffin (who later became leader of the British National Party) and Derek Holland. This group eventually termed itself the Official National Front. The ideas of Harrington and his allies led to alienation of some NF supporters with the Flag Group splitting off to follow more traditional NF ideas.N. Copsey, Contemporary British Fascism: The British National Party and the Quest for Legitimacy, Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, 2004, p. 45 Harrington was involved in one of the manifestations of these divisions in the 1989 Vauxhall by-election when, as a candidate, one of his opponents was Ted Budden of the Flag Group. In September 1988, the three men visited Libya as a guest of the Gaddafi regime. In October, the Political Soldier NF was the subject of a Channel 4 documentary, Disciples of Chaos in which Harrington was interviewed.

There was another schism in 1989 when Harrington and Graham Williamson parted company with Griffin and Holland. The ONF had opened dialogue with groups like the Nation of Islam and the Pan-Afrikan International Movement. According to Harrington's account of the split, when he opened discussion with Jewish nationalist and anti-Zionist rabbi Mayer Schiller (see section on Harrington's ideological development below) and advocated a two-state solution to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, he was attacked as a "Zionist". Harrington and Williamson attended pro-Palestinian demonstrations such as the 1988 Quds Day march in London, as part of an ONF strategy to show support for Muslim anti-Zionists.Cheles, Ferguson & Vaughan, Neo-Fascism in Europe p.260

For their part, Griffin and Holland claimed that Harrington's refusal to condemn the IRA had been the cause of many problems.Searchlight, February 1990 Party members in Ulster sided with Harrington. In late 1989, Harrington voted for the disbandment of the Official National Front and joined with others to form the Third Way in 1990. Griffin and Holland formed the International Third Position. Later Griffin left this group and joined the BNP.

Relationship with Skrewdriver/Blood & Honour As an official of the NF, Harrington was involved in administering the White Noise Club, which organised white power music concerts featuring, among others, Skrewdriver. In 1987, the Political Soldier group fell out with Ian Stuart, the lead singer of Skrewdriver. Stuart responded by setting up his own group, Blood & Honour, whose eponymous publication openly attacked his former NF associates. They in turn denounced Stuart. Harrington and Holland are allegedly the subjects of the Skrewdriver song "A Time of Change", included on their 1988 album After the Fire.Searchlight, February 1988.

Allegations of links with state security