If Northern Ireland Secretary Mo Mowlam had a fiver for every time she has been called on to resign she could probably retire on the proceeds.

It has almost become a ritual that whenever the peace process hits another road block, one side or the other starts demanding her head as the price of progress.

She doesn't take too much notice of it and, so far, none of the demands have amounted to serious challenges to her position. But things may be changing.

With only days to go before the deadline for the creation of the province's new executive she is facing the most serious challenge yet from Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble.

Mr Trimble has never got on with Dr Mowlam. He has never found her laid-back style and blunt speaking to his taste and has always found it difficult to trust her.

But now he claims she is actually an obstacle to the peace process and wants her out. She has said she is ready to quit the moment she believes that she is a counterproductive force.

Impending crisis

The persistent rumours that a Cabinet re-shuffle is imminent and that she is eager to get out of Belfast and do another job have only added to the sense of impending crisis.

Ever since Ms Mowlam took over the job she has been accused by some in Belfast of being out of her depth.

She is widely liked and respected amongst ordinary people, but the politicians have often been less impressed.

There is little doubt that it was her determination and sheer grit that helped bring the Good Friday negotiations to a successful conclusion.

She is a hugely likeable person and one of the very few really genuine and approachable people in Westminster.

But there is a growing feeling that it may be time to put somebody else, with a firmer grasp of the awful detail of Northern Ireland politics into the job. And she certainly deserves a break and a reward for her efforts to date.

It would be a huge shame if she were to go at a time when her efforts were being questioned, but the history of the province is littered with politicians who tried and, ultimately, failed.

This all lands Tony Blair with a major headache of course. He wants to do his reshuffle in the next few weeks and he almost certainly has Dr Mowlam pencilled in for another job.

But it is impossible to calculate what the result of the move would be. Some will be telling him it would unblock the impasse while others will warn him against giving the impression of panic or caving in to the unionists.

Some of the questions may be resolved over the next few days when the deadline is finally reached and then when the marching season starts in earnest early next month.

There is a huge desire for the peace process to continue and, if the deadlock is broken, Dr Mowlam can be moved while on a high note.