Conservative leader breaks soft strike deal (4)
I believe the answer is:
pact
'deal' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'conservative leader breaks soft strike' is the wordplay.
'conservative leader' becomes 'c' (I've seen this in other clues).
'breaks' indicates putting letters inside.
'soft strike' becomes 'pat' (patting is a kind of striking. I am not sure about the 'soft' bit.).
'c' put inside 'pat' is 'PACT'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for pact that I've seen before include "International treaty" , "Formal agreement between parties or states" , "Settlement" , "Agreement, covenant" , "Treaty, formal agreement" .)