Back to basics here, as Conservative taking drugs? (6,3)
I believe the answer is:
square one
'back to basics here' is the definition.
'conservative taking drugs?' is the wordplay.
'conservative' becomes 'square' (I've seen this before).
'taking' becomes 'on' (eg one taking drugs is 'on' drugs).
'drugs?' becomes 'e' (somebody 'on E' could also be 'on drugs'**).
'square'+'on'+'e'='SQUARE ONE'
'as' is the link.
(Other definitions for square one that I've seen before include "Back to . . . . . . . . . - at starting point with no progress made" , "back here after failure" .)