Conservative leader to suffer defeat? Time for recess (6)
I believe the answer is:
closet
'recess' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'conservative leader to suffer defeat? time' is the wordplay.
'leader' suggests taking the first letters.
'to suffer defeat?' becomes 'lose'.
'time' becomes 't'.
The initial letter of 'conservative' is 'c'.
'c'+'lose'+'t'='CLOSET'
'for' is the link.
(Other definitions for closet that I've seen before include "place to store gear" , "little room" , "Furtive" , "Small room or cabinet for storage" , "Secret - cupboard" .)