Controlling influence elevated bad temper in unelected politician (9)
I believe the answer is:
puppeteer
'controlling influence' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both people as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps there's an association between them I don't understand?
'elevated bad temper in unelected politician' is the wordplay.
'elevated' becomes 'up' (raised up).
'bad temper' becomes 'pet' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should believe this answer much more).
'in' indicates putting letters inside.
'unelected politician' becomes 'peer' (I've seen this before).
'up'+'pet'='uppet'
'uppet' inserted into 'peer' is 'PUPPETEER'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for puppeteer that I've seen before include "One controlling the strings" , "Showman" , "one holding the strings?" , "who's manipulative" , "Punch worker" .)