Garbhán McPhillips will sit as an independent councillor after quitting the SDLPAn SDLP councillor has quit the party on the eve of its annual conference. His departure from the SDLP to sit as an independent leaves two SDLP representatives on the council. Claire Hanna’s party is due to hold its annual conference in Belfast on Saturday. “The core values of the party are not there any more.”Ms Hanna said she was “disappointed” by the 39-year-old’s resignation. An SDLP spokesman said: “We acknowledge the decision by Councillor McPhillips and wish him the best for the future.