TD says she kept values of FG

Lucinda Creighton insisted she had stayed true to Fine Gael’s values after she was kicked out of the parliamentary party for voting against the abortion legislation.

She is to lose her position as European affairs minister and her exit is the biggest loss that Enda Kenny’s government has faced so far.

As she prepared to move to the Independent benches last night, she said she had stayed true to her party’s values but was now ready to be “constructive” with government ministers on issues and to contribute “fresh thinking” to policies.