Corrupt traitor, with Euro as a basis for lending (4,4)
I believe the answer is:
base rate
'a basis for lending' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this defines the answer.
'corrupt traitor with euro' is the wordplay.
'corrupt' becomes 'base'.
'traitor' becomes 'rat' (rat can mean a treacherous person).
'with' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'euro' becomes 'E' (E resembles the Euro symbol).
'base'+'rat'+'e'='BASE RATE'
'as' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for base rate that I've seen before include "Interest charged by the Bank of England to commercial banks" , "Bank of England lending index" , "official interest" , "Interest level set by the Bank of England" .)