16 across
Conservative
leader
of
yesteryear
to
hug
tree
(7)
Conservative leader of yesteryear to hug tree (7)
hints
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checks
0
hints
The definition is at the end of the clue.
How the clue works
Right, so tree is what we're defining here, and it's leading us to CYPRESS. Start with C for Conservative, then Y — that's the leader, or first letter, of "yesteryear" — and finally PRESS, which is your bit for "to hug". Bung those three together, C, Y, PRESS, and you've got your tree.