OBSERVING one of Tony Blair's monthly press conferences is similar to watching a prize fighter at a funfair. Rows of cocky contenders queue to take him on, but they never land a blow.

At the end they stagger away, disorientated but safe in the knowledge they have been beaten by a better operator.

Yesterday, however, the champ's undoubted skills deserted him and - more than once or twice - a glove got through and landed firmly on the Prime Minister's chin.

Mr Blair was initially undone by his gameplan. Defence and attack at the same time. No trainer alive would send his charge into the ring with this tactic.

But Mr Blair's trainer, Alastair Campbell, has gone. It showed. He began by telling us he was, like Lady Thatcher, "not for turning" on difficult issues of public sector reform.

But he also wanted to listen and consult with - among others - students opposed to top-up fees and unions against foundation hospitals.

What is the point in listening if you have made up your mind?, he was asked by one hack.

Mr Blair rocked on his feet then replied: "I think it's a good thing to listen to the views of people who are working in the public services that we are trying to change. They have got a valuable input to make.

"But in no sense does it mean we are going to depart from the reform agenda.

"It's a dialogue in order not to weaken the reform process, but to strengthen the understanding of it."

Had the Prime Minister ever listened and then altered one of his policies?

For a full minute he had nothing to give. He laughed nervously, buying time by saying "thanks" to his inquisitor, then he managed one example.

Realising a derisory 75p increase in pension payments was plain wrong.

The punches then started to come in thick and fast and he could offer neither defence nor attack anymore.

The subject was the Hutton inquiry into the apparent suicide of scientist Dr David Kelly.

Could Mr Blair - who last week became only the second British PM to be hauled in front of a judicial inquiry - explain away the concerns of senior intelligence officials about the dossier which made the case for the Iraq war?

Had he authorised the strategy which led to Dr Kelly's name emerging in public or not? Immediately after his death, he had said he had not sanctioned the "leaking" of the name. Had he now told Lord Hutton something different?

He showed a little of the arrogance which had made him the champ - "I could answer at length..." - but his hands were tied. He had to "let the judge do the judging".

Only a fool would describe Mr Blair as down and out, but a change in Parliament's calendar has left him little time to lick his wounds.

Normally, he would not have been seen again until Labour Party conference. But this year MPs are being dragged back to Westminster for a short two-week session before packing for the seaside at the end of September.

This means that, on Wednesday, he must face the ordeal all over again at Prime Minister's Questions, but against a different set of opponents - Iain Duncan Smith, Charles Kennedy and his own backbenchers.

With Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon - the most likely victim of the Hutton inquiry - and Education Secretary Charles Clarke also due to face a grilling by MPs, it could be a long fortnight.

Updated: 12:07 Friday, September 05, 2003