Returned to power, Labour's leader admitted requirement to fix potholes (8)
I believe the answer is:
blacktop
'requirement to fix potholes' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this defines the answer.
'returned to power labour's leader admitted' is the wordplay.
'returned' becomes 'back' (I've seen this in other clues).
'to power' becomes 'top' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'labour's leader' becomes 'l'.
'admitted' indicates putting letters inside (inserted letters get admitted).
'back'+'top'='backtop'
'backtop' enclosing 'l' is 'BLACKTOP'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Another definition for blacktop that I've seen is " It surfaces".)