Under the common law of England, generally, only the parties to a contract can acquire rights and be bound by duties. This in turn means that third parties cannot acquire rights in a contract between two other parties. Likewise, two parties to a contract cannot impose liabilities on a third party who is not a party to the contract.
In Tweddle v Atkinson (1861) 1 B & S 393 Crompton J said that the claimant must provide consideration to enforce the promise and that if a person cannot be sued under the contract as he is not a party, he should not be able to sue.