Use 'self' instead of 'cls' in validator methods following Python conventions

[Copilot]

• Understand the feedback about using 'self' instead of 'cls' in validator methods
• Review the unified_validator decorator implementation
• Determine the correct approach (modify decorator vs modify methods)
• Update the unified_validator decorator to accept 'self' and transform to 'cls'
• Update all validator methods to use 'self' instead of 'cls'
• Test the changes to ensure validators still work correctly
• Address code review feedback about metadata preservation
• Remove unused imports
• Improve code comments for clarity
• Reply to the comment once changes are complete
• Run security checks (CodeQL) - no vulnerabilities found
• Final code review and validation
• Rebase onto copilot/sub-pr-8 to resolve conflicts and maintain linear history

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[stuartp44]

@copilot can you fix the conflicts

[Copilot]

@copilot can you fix the conflicts

Conflicts resolved by merging copilot/sub-pr-8 branch. The merge added validation for custom version input in the release workflow. (2afbb20)

[stuartp44]

@copilot more conflicts

[Copilot]

@copilot more conflicts

I've checked the repository state thoroughly. The branch is currently up to date with copilot/sub-pr-8 (commit 930edb4) from the previous merge (2afbb20). No new conflicts detected - all files merge cleanly and tests pass. The GitHub UI conflict indicator may be stale. Could you provide more details about which files show conflicts?

[stuartp44]

@copilot models.py of which there is 9 conflicts

[Copilot]

@copilot models.py of which there is 9 conflicts

Resolved the conflicts in models.py by rebasing the branch onto copilot/sub-pr-8. The branch now has a linear history with all validator methods correctly using 'self' instead of 'cls'. All tests pass. (5c193a7)