The Rev Ian Paisley has moved to scotch internal DUP speculation about his leadership by affirming his intention to serve his full four-year term as Northern Ireland's First Minister.
The veteran MP also indicated that he would defend his North Antrim seat in any snap Westminster election.
The DUP leader was speaking in Bournemouth, where he proved something of a hit on the Labour conference fringe.
As speculation continued about British prime minister Gordon Brown's intentions, Dr Paisley said: "I don't think he'll call it [ a snap election]. He's a canny Scot, he's got a good majority. I think the tide coming in for an election is receding."
While Mr Brown's big speech on Monday has been widely interpreted as his "manifesto", Dr Paisley also suggested that it probably marked "the beginning of a building process", although he acknowledged that he "could be completely wrong".
Dr Paisley had allowed for no such possibility earlier in the day during an interview with Channel 4 News political editor Gary Gibbon following the conference's now-traditional "Ulster Fry" breakfast event.
Gibbon gently pressed Dr Paisley about the remarkable personal journey that ended in his agreement earlier this year to share power with Sinn Féin. Was this a moment perhaps to acknowledge that others - vociferously condemned by him - had been quicker to spot the potential for peace? Nice try - but true to form, the one-time firebrand would take "no lectures" from or about Ulster Unionists who "went in while the bombings and killings continued".
But wasn't it fair to say that, if others hadn't "engaged in grey areas", he (Dr Paisley) wouldn't be where he is today?
"No . . . that's not right. They were engaged in negotiations that were really compromises," he said.
Dr Paisley told an audience of more than 150 that he had resisted pressure from former prime minister Tony Blair to drop his demand that any party entering government must support the police, describing Gerry Adams's endorsement of policing in west Belfast as "a miracle".
In a retort to critics who have dubbed him and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness "the chuckle brothers", Dr Paisley said this was certainly a development that he chuckled at.
He was asked whether he had also changed - could he still hold a placard proclaiming the pope to be "the anti-Christ"?
"Well that is the reformed faith," replied Dr Paisley before diverting a potentially difficult moment by referring to someone who had accused him of writing the Westminster Confession of Faith. Happy to lay the responsibility with his forefathers, he laughed: "If I had done that I would be 481."
Talk of his age invited questions about how long he intended to continue in politics. As long as he had health and strength and the people desired it, "I'll be there", came the robust reply. "I've every intention to serve out the period I was elected for."
And were all his "lieutenants" happy with that? "You'll have to ask them," he smiled knowingly.
Dr Paisley said there had been "a distinct change" in the attitudes of both Protestants and Catholics in Northern Ireland that could "almost be described as miraculous", and added that he "rejoiced in it".
Dr Paisley repeated his desire to see an end of the IRA army council, pointedly telling the audience, including Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Shaun Woodward, "I have no responsibility for these things".
He also said he despised loyalist paramilitaries and wanted to see communities denying them support and the "government moving against them".