South West’s Safest Labour Councillor Quits Party Citing 'Constant U-Turns' Thursday, January 22, 2026 labour councillor independence paulton uturn council politics keirstarmer localgovernment environment Grant Johnson, a long-serving councillor representing Paulton—the former coal mining village deemed the safest Labour seat in South West England—has announced his departure from the Labour Party to serve as an independent. … Read More