Council tries every way...Conspiracy theorists abounded as the future of regulation was debated at this week's Law Society Council meeting.

Three approaches were proposed: traditional (ie, conservative), total deregulation (ie, liberal) and progressive (the third way?).

And what colour shirt did each proposer wear? In order blue, yellow and pink.

'It's a subtle psychological hint,' Merseyside & District member Laurence Bennett muttered to Obiter.

A straw poll showed no votes for blue, six for yellow and ten for pink; the majority supported a so-called 'fourth way' that emerged during the debate.

When a politician uses that phrase, remember: you heard it here first.