The Rev Ian Paisley has given the clearest signal yet that the DUP will not agree a powersharing deal with Sinn Féin by the November 24th deadline set by the British and Irish governments.
Speaking after Downing Street talks with Tony Blair last night, Dr Paisley also denied planning to play the situation long pending the election of a successor British prime minister - while at the same time raising doubts about Mr Blair's ability to "deliver" the necessary conditions for a new agreement.
Pointing up the potential dilemma ahead for Mr Blair and Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, the DUP leader said he believed "progress" could be made during intensive talks involving both governments and the political parties planned for next month.
However, Dr Paisley also quoted SDLP leader Mark Durkan in support of his view that this "very important" gathering should take place at Stormont, and not in Scotland as currently intended.
In a seeming swipe at both prime ministers, Dr Paisley suggested that the days of leaders gaining publicity at such events was over: "The time has come for hard things to be said and to be done."
Asked if he thought an agreement could be reached by November 24th, the DUP leader replied: "No, I do not think so." And he said "no deadlines" had been raised with him during what he described as a "good" meeting with Mr Blair.
Asked by The Irish Times if he believed a deal could be reached while Mr Blair remained prime minister, Dr Paisley said: "I think we could - but then, could he [ Mr Blair] deliver it?" That comment echoed a recent statement by DUP chief whip Nigel Dodds MP also questioning Mr Blair's ability to "sell" any deal on the political future of Northern Ireland.
And while Dr Paisley denied playing a waiting game during Labour's leadership turmoil - insisting he was taking the situation "as it is" - usually reliable sources close to the party leadership claimed a growing view within the party that a "hung parliament" after the next British general election might provide the most advantageous conditions from a unionist perspective.
Insisting "this is not the time for a deal with a lame-duck prime minister", one source told The Irish Times: "It's not a sprint, it's a marathon. And if it's a marathon, that means November 24th is only a warm-up."
Dr Paisley made clear that "delivery" would have to include a resolution of the policing issue.