Attribute to a pen-pusher (7)
I believe the answer is:
ascribe
'attribute' is the definition.
(I know that attribute can be written as ascribe)
'a pen-pusher' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite understand how this works, but
'a' is present in the answer.
'pen' could be 'crib' (I've seen this before) and 'crib' is found in the answer.
The remaining letters 'se' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't understand.
This explanation may well be incorrect...
'to' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for ascribe that I've seen before include "'Impute, assign (7)'" , "put down" , "Attribute in Brescia" , "Attribute or credit to" , "'Attribute, assign (7)'" .)