FINE GAEL HAS said it wishes Lucinda Creighton well after the former junior minister decided to let her membership of the party lapse and not renew it.

Creighton has confirmed that she will not be renewing her membership of the party before tomorrow’s deadline after earlier reports that she would.

The Dublin South East TD was expelled from the Fine Gael parliamentary ranks nearly a year ago after voting against the abortion legislation but she has retained her membership of the party up until tomorrow when it will lapse.

She said today that she will not be renewing it.

Since being expelled last summer Creighton has formed the Reform Alliance with other expelled Fine Gael TDs and Senators fuelling speculation that a new political party is in the offing – talk that has been consistently played down, though not denied by the members of ‘The RA’.

Fine Gael said today that it is a matter for any individual member of the party as to whether or not they continue their membership.

“If she’s made that choice [not to renew], then that’s obviously her decision. We wish her well,” a spokesperson said.

Of the other RA members, senator Paul Bradford, Creighton’s husband, has also decided not to renew his membership of Fine Gael while Roscommon-South Leitrim TD Denis Naughten let his membership lapse having been expelled from the party two years ago when he voted against local hospital cuts

However, Wicklow TD Billy Timmins has confirmed he has renewed his membership along with RA colleagues Terence Flanagan, a TD for Dublin North-East, and Senator Fidelma Healy-Eames.

Another RA member, Dublin South TD Peter Mathews quit the party last year.

Creighton: ‘Inconvenient truths, independent thought’ not welcome in government

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