'Ideas matter, and it's time to get serious' insisted the handbook for the Battle of Ideas, a two-day festival of feisty debate on subjects such as reproductive technology, the global economy, energy, work, freedom and privacy, and therapy culture. It was 'incredibly stimulating,' said one punter, 'like having sex with Richard Dawkins and the Pope at the same time'.

The 'names' among the 200-plus speakers included David Aaronovitch, Martin Bell, Vince Cable, Suzanne Moore, ...