Blair grilled ... so Cherie sings

It should have been a straightforward interlude in a week of political turbulence.

But today Tony Blair found himself at the centre of an extraordinary grilling by Chinese students - and then he had to watch as his wife, Cherie, launched into a version of the Beatles song, When I'm 64.

Anticipating a gentle questionand-answer session on soft subjects like British trade with China, the Prime Minister looked shocked when Chinese students ambushed him over the death of David Kelly and the war with Iraq.

He was asked whether he was facing his worst political crisis, why he decided not to resign and what he needed to do to win back British people's trust. He was even asked if he minded his wife earning more money than he did. The students themselves said they were far from convinced by his answers.

Mr Blair, who had spent days avoiding close questioning by British media, was confronted by a startlingly well-informed audience at Tsinghua University, the leading institution in China.

The first question raised the issue of Dr Kelly's death. "When we think of the UK, we think of the Iraq war and the death of Dr Kelly," said Lu Yunan, a 21-year-old journalism student. "Do you think this is the toughest time you have faced in your career? Have you regretted making the decision to star a war?"

Moments later the scientist's death was raised again - this time by Ling Nan, 20, a computer-science student.

She asked: "Can you tell us frankly what you felt when you heard the news on your plane to Tokyo? And how can you get through this political crisis and regain your people's trust?"

Mr Blair replied: "This is a desperately sad time for the family of Dr Kelly and his funeral's not been held yet, and I don't want to say more about that situation except there will be a proper independent inquiry into what happened."

The Prime Minister was asked in intensely personal terms about his claim always to have told the truth about weapons of mass destruction.

One student said: "You are the same age as my father. Can you tell me honestly - like you were taking to your own children - that you never lied about the Iraq war?"

He replied: "In my country, if the people disagree with me, they can out me out of office - they can vote me out - and put someone else in. That's democracy."

He was further questioned on a variety of issues, including whether Britain was the "51st state of the US".

Mr Blair then came under fire over high tuition fees for foreign students at British Universities. But one of his most uncomfortable moments came when a male student asked him how it felt to have a wife earning more than he does - something which in China would be humiliating for a man.

Mr Blair said: "My wife is smarter than me, which is one reason why she went into the law and not politics." He added: "Nowadays women should be able to earn as much as men - and more if they are better."

Questioned afterwards, neither of Mr Blair's female questioners thought he had answered their questions properly. And they said that, given the opportunity to vote for him, they would not.

The session was officially sanctioned by the Chinese Government - whose senior officials would never allow themselves to be ambushed in such a way.

The setting was relaxed, with the Prime Minister sitting on a chair in an atrium surrounded by students. And Cherie Blair provided an unexpected finale to the session.

Mrs Blair came to her husband's rescue when he was asked to sing a Fab Four hit. He looked startled when a female student called out: "Sing us a song. Sing the Beatles."

"A song? The Beatles? Where's my wife," a flustered Mr Blair demanded. "Anyone who thinks this morning is scripted - it certainly isn't."

By now Mrs Blair - in a grey suit with pink high-heeled shoes - was standing next to her husband - who passed her a microphone.

"What do they want me to sing?" Mrs Blair asked.

Mr Blair chose the number When I'm 64, and Mrs Blair sang the first verse - word and note perfect - before being drowned out by thunderous applause.