Authoritarian figure I transport to the left (8)
I believe the answer is:
martinet
'authoritarian figure i transport to the left' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this defines the answer.
'authoritarian figure i transport to the left' is the wordplay.
'authoritarian figure' becomes 'ten' (I've seen this in other clues. I am not sure about the 'authoritarian' bit.**).
'transport' becomes 'tram' (tram is a kind of transport).
'to the left' says the letters should be written backwards (reading from right to left).
'ten'+'i'+'tram'='tenitram'
'tenitram' back-to-front is 'MARTINET'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for martinet that I've seen before include "General" , "Stickler for discipline" , "Tyrant, one who demands strict obedience" , "A rigorous operator" , "A strict disciplarian" .)