A shade less than creditable (3)

I believe the answer is:

red

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'a shade' is the definition.

'less than creditable' is the wordplay.
'RED' is hidden in amongst the letters.
However, I am uncertain how this is indicated.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for red that I've seen before include "could be a Marxist" , "Very angry, seeing this" , "Colour of communism" , "Colour for a blusher" , "lefty" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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