By Martina Purdy BBC NI political correspondent

Mark Durkan has an image of being the nice guy of Northern Ireland politics.

But his claim on Inside Politics that Tony Blair pressed him in vain to exclude Sinn Fein from government reveals there is more to the SDLP leader than meets the eye.

He's no pushover, and he's not afraid to wield the knife when it suits him.

But was it Mr Blair he was getting at, the government, or perhaps Sinn Fein, or perhaps a bit of both?

Preferred option

Mr Durkan asserts that the prime minister believed there were grounds for exclusion and yet failed to act, instead preferring the SDLP carry the burden.

Mr Durkan wasn't prepared to do so. And by revealing the conversation he can have his political cake and eat it.

He can embarrass the government - and he can expose Sinn Fein without being vilified by nationalists for turning his back on inclusive politics.

Clearly he is not prepared to be political putty for the prime minister or anyone else.

Public position

While Tony Blair has in the past promised to exclude those he considered not committed to exclusively peaceful means, he has in public continued to maintain that he considered Sinn Fein to be well-intentioned.

Sinn Fein's bone fides were accepted publicly by the government

In his most recent address in Belfast, Mr Blair said: "I also believe Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness want the Agreement to work."

Mr Durkan's remarks, it could be argued, undermine the prime minister's public view about Sinn Fein and its bona fides.

And if Mr Durkan is correct his comments shed light on the government's true policy intentions.

It had been thought by many commentators that Mr Blair would to go any lengths to protect his policy of inclusion - and avoid playing hardball with the IRA.

Now analysts may have to revise their assumptions.

No denial

Significantly, Downing Street, perhaps anxious to avoid a public spat with the SDLP leader, has not denied Mr Durkan's claims, instead preferring to keep the focus on the future.

Of course the ultimate conspiracy theory could be that Downing Street was happy for the revelation to come out as a warning to republicans.

Yet Mr Durkan's verbal semtex has not only exploded some apparent myths - it's also ensured that a rather eventful month closes with something other than a whimper.

Tony Blair's aids did not deny the suggestion was made

October has seen the fall of an executive, a Belfast address from Tony Blair amounting to a go-out of business notice to the IRA, and a reshuffle that brought a Murphy to Hillsborough - albeit of the Welsh variety.

As the process bids farewell to the former Secretary of State, John Reid, his successor Paul Murphy faces the daunting task of restoring faith in the process, and in devolution.

So far he's only managed to meet most of the main players - as he tried to bring himself up to date on his brief.

After all, it's been four years since he was last here as political development minister when he helped negotiated the Good Friday Agreement.

Complex process

Getting past the tea and sympathy stage will require a firm plan of action.

In essence, a complex negotiation that results in all sides getting what they want, choreographed to ensure confidence.

But the process has deflated faster than the fizz in the champagne meant to celebrate Belfast's city of culture bid.

That too turned out to be ill-fated. The Sinn Fein leader seemed to take up the theme when he suggested the government had let the air out of the process.

Forum idea

Nationalists are trying to generate hot air by resurrecting the Forum for Peace and Reconciliation.

Unionists however have given that idea cool reception, regarding it as an ill-wind.

P O'Neill reared his head again by announcing the IRA was suspending contact with the arms decommissioning body.

Most commentators dismissed it as a tactic, although the Sinn Fein leader says no one should underestimate how serious the situation is.

SDLP conference

Before the winter blues set in altogether, the focus is now turning to the party season - party conference season.

The SDLP's conference is taking place over the weekend in Armagh, and later this month the DUP will take centre stage in Belfast.

There are also a number of trips planned to the United States, by the Sinn Fein leader and by the new Secretary of State. Will all this leave time for a pre-Christmas deal?

Nationalists are claiming the government has no plan - and if it does it's well hidden.

Or is the plan that the government keeps its arms folded and does little in the hope that P O'Neill caves in?

Or is the secret deal underway - signalled by an over-lapping in language by some of the key players?

If you are optimistic, logic, and experience would suggest that however difficult the solution, there will be one sooner rather than later. Why? Because self-interest is a great motivator.