### Clue: I can't act stupidly around Independent strategist (9)
### Answer: TACTICIAN 
 ### Explanation: Definition: strategist
 **Anagram of**(… stupidly) I CAN'T ACT **containing**(around) I(abbrev. for an "Independent", a politician who is not a member of any particular political party).
Definition and answer are not quite synonymous, one operating at a higher level than the other. But since one could take both (distinct) roles simultaneously, would this be within a crossword setter's licence?