DR Mo Mowlam of the British Labour Party has stepped back from demanding Sir Patrick Mayhew's resignation amid suggestions that Westminster's bipartisan policy on the North - is coming under strain.
The shadow Northern Ireland secretary released details of an exchange of letters with Sir Patrick over the past year revealing his resistance to proposals for an independent commission to advise on controversial marches.
Yesterday's Observer had Dr Mowlam accusing Sir Patrick of "a lack of political leadership, as well as a failure of initiative, for which he must, take much personal responsibility".
But when asked if she thought Sir Patrick should resign, Dr Mowlam told The Irish Times: "No, I don't think in a sense that's the issue. Rather than looking for scalps, it would be better if everybody admitted they were part of the problem."
Asked if she considered Sir Patrick who has confirmed he will stand down as an MP at the next election - a "lame duck" Northern Secretary, Dr Mowlam replied: "Well, I think they're a bit of a lame duck government."
Dr Mo Mowlam again supported Dublin's call for an urgent meeting of the Anglo Irish Intergovernmental Conference. She urged the SDLP to continue to take part in the multi party talks.
However, she said the SDLP's attitude to the Forum was "comprehensible". And in a forthright attack on the unionist leadership, Dr Mowlam called on them "to show some humility and acknowledge their part in this present escalation of violence when the Orange Order threatened the rule of law by a show of power and the threat of violence at Drumcree".
Dr Mowlam first wrote to Sir Patrick on July 17th last year, asking "what preparations are being made to establish a mechanism for discussions between the community groups in advance of the marches next year?"
In February, she again wrote offering detailed proposals for the creation of an independent body to advise on mediation and the routing of controversial marches. But on March 1st, Sir Patrick told her: "Operational handling of parades is a matter for the Chief Constable."
A month later, Dr Mowlam reportedly accused the British government of not facing its responsibilities by stalling on the creation of an independent body. In June, she wrote again, observing that the Chief Constable and Dr Eames had endorsed the proposal.
But on June 26th, Sir Patrick finally rejected the plan as the body would need to reach its recommendations by unanimity, adding: "If its advice was ignored by the marchers, or set aside by the RUC for operational reasons, then the standing of the body would be called into question."