Yesterday evening the big names in British think tanks lined up in London to embark on a revolutionary new way of debating. Or that’s how it was billed.

Calling it a think tank battle set the political rumour mill whirring. I heard that the think tankers were going to be speaking to music, Eminem-style. I even thought they might be dressed as boxers and put inside a ring. So I have to admit a little initial disappointment when I entered the hall and found five chairs spread casually across a stage, with water to boot. No boxing gloves? No Rocky theme tune entrances?

But the format was interesting – four battles of two think tanks on a particular topic, each given only two minutes to get their point across. The winners of each bout were then voted through to the second half. For a review of exactly what happened and what was said, please refer to the New Deal of the Mind website, or to Sunder Katwala’s blog post on the matter. I am going to give it my own scores based on who debated best.

Bout 1: Red Toryism – Progress vs ResPublica
Due to the luck of the coin, Jessica Asato from Progress was given the unfortunate job of getting up first and criticising ResPublica’s Phillip Blond before he had even said a word. This was the think tank equivalent to a politician on dodgy ground starting every sentence with “when you were in government”. Blond got up and destroyed her with his usual mix of phrases, dumfounding his opponent and the audience alike.
Score: Blond bombshell

Bout 2: Welfare reform- Fabian Society vs Reform
The Fabian Society’s Sunder Katwala, looking like a small child in his brother’s suit, gave the most impassioned speech of the night about welfare. Sadly ,Reform misjudged the relaxed tone of the event and came dressed as insurance salesman with the charisma to boot, so this was a no-brainer.
Score: Katwala lands a knockout

Bout 3: Character or networks? Demos vs the RSA
Matthew Taylor of the RSA, looking like the sexy bad guy in a James Bond movie, clashed (metaphorically and physically) with Reeves who had gone for a horrific combination of brown trousers and a tweed jacket. The debate about networks and character was a close one with both sides landing punches. Probably the most interesting debate for political wonks like me.
Score: Too close to call

Bout 4: The Economy: Policy Exchange vs IPPR
Carey Oppenheim from IPPR was on home turf here with a crowd largely receptive to her ideas. Despite that, she failed to hit the heights and in debating terms was out-flanked by Andrew Lilico. Lilico, despite looking like a Danish preacher, had some powerful points about ring-fencing the NHS at the expense of other areas, a point which Oppenheim failed to refute. Despite this, Oppenheim was voted through by the audience.
Score: Dodgy decision to put Oppenheim through

After whittling it from eight to four, I was excited about the second half. What could we expect? The thinkers forming hooded gangs and doing their best Dave Cameron impressions? An obstacle course with gladiators dressed as Marx and Thatcher?

Sadly it was not to be. We ended up with four people discussing policy and chair Rory Bremner doing more Gordon Brown impressions. And because we had voted out the more right-wing think-tanks it ended up being a little self-congratulatory with much consensus and a little less battle than I would have liked. Nevertheless, an innovative take on a traditional framework. I very much hope it becomes a regular feature of the think tank calendar.