Conservative madman fights to see liberal speakers (12)

I believe the answer is:

chatterboxes

'liberal speakers' is the definition.

'conservative madman fights' is the wordplay.
'conservative' becomes 'c' (abbreviation commonly used in UK politics).
'madman' becomes 'hatter' (mad hatter).
'fights' becomes 'boxes'.
'c'+'hatter'+'boxes'='CHATTERBOXES'

'to see' acts as a link.

I've seen this clue in The Times.

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