Chris Cardona had long suspected a “plot” to implicate him in Daphne Caruana Galizia’s murder, the former minister said on national TV on Thursday.

Interviewed on Xtra, Cardona said there had been a build-up of allegations against him over the previous two years.

Fears of a plot to "frame" Economy Minister Chris Cardona for the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia were raised during a tense late-night Cabinet meeting – with Joseph Muscat still Prime Minister - in November.

During a late night meeting, ministers were told by investigators about a typed note that had allegedly been passed on to Fenech while in police custody directing him to pin the murder on Cardona and providing details of how this should be done. 

“At least there is proof to show that this was a false and cruel plot to try to involve me in this affair,” Cardona said when recalling his emotions on being told about the letter.

Cardona was one of three former Cabinet members was not given a post on the Cabinet by new Prime Minister Robert Abela.

Cardona is still an MP and holds the post of deputy leader for party affairs.

Cardona spoke of his belief that everybody in politics has an expiry date and how he felt that there was still more he could offer the party.

“I cannot imagine myself without the Labour Party or how I can live without being involved in it,” he said.

Cardona said he continued to look at Muscat with “admiration and respect”, even though he admitted that the former prime minister may have made some bad decisions and errors of judgement.