Appoint Tory leader to underwrite the Birdcage (2-3)
I believe the answer is:
co-opt
'appoint tory leader' is the definition.
'co-opt' can be an answer for 'appoint' (co-opting is a kind of appointing). I am not sure about the 'tory leader' bit.
'underwrite the birdcage' is the wordplay.
I cannot really see how this works, but
'the' could be 't' (the is pronounced as a 't' sound in some dialects) and 't' is found within the answer.
'birdcage' could be 'coop' (I've seen this before) and 'coop' is found in the answer.
This accounts for all the letters.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).
'to' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for co-opt that I've seen before include "Adopt (an idea/policy) for one's own use" , "Appoint to committee by invitation" .)