Crossword Genius

Arthur (not Ben) is a Pole, and a skilled worker (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

artisan

'skilled worker' is the definition.
(an artisan is a skilled craftsperson)

'arthur not ben is a pole and a' is the wordplay.
'not' indicates named letters should be taken away.
'ben' becomes 'hur' (Ben-Hur).
'a pole' becomes 'n' (abbreviation for North, as in North Pole).
'and' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'arthur' with 'hur' removed is 'art'.
'n' put after 'a' is 'an'.
'art'+'is'+'an'='ARTISAN'

(Other definitions for artisan that I've seen before include "Smith" , "Skilled worker by hand" , "Journeyman" , "crafty person?" , "Tsarina (anag.)" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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