Mr David Trimble appears determined on a collision with the British government over the planned amnesty for paramilitary fugitives or OTRs (On The Runs).
In the Commons yesterday, the Ulster Unionist leader told the Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, an amnesty could represent the "last straw" for many unionist supporters of the Belfast Agreement.
Confirming his opposition to the government's planned legislation, expected by the end of this month, Mr Trimble reminded Mr Blair of his promise during the 1998 referendum campaign that the early-release scheme for prisoners would not be an amnesty.
And he warned: "For a lot of good people, who have stuck with the Agreement through thick and thin and who have had to put up with quite a lot recently, for the government to go back on its word now and to break faith with people will be the last straw."
Mr Blair appeared irritated by Mr Trimble's intervention, telling him curtly: "We made clear at Weston Park that this was an issue to be dealt with. We will deal with it. How we deal with it, however, is open to discussion."
That reference to last July's Weston Park negotiation was a sharp reminder to Mr Trimble that a range of measures agreed there by the British and Irish governments were part of the package which subsequently secured the start of IRA decommissioning and Mr Trimble's successful re-election as First Minister.
Despite resuming ministerial office following his resignation last July, Mr Trimble has always denied having "signed-up" to the Weston Park package on an amnesty for OTRs or the review of the new policing legislation due to get under way next month.