Councillor given honour by intensely austere leader (8)

I believe the answer is:

cromwell

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'leader' is the definition.
(Cromwell is an example)

I don't understand how the remainder of the clue works.

(Other definitions for cromwell that I've seen before include "His forces massacred Irish people in the 17th century" , "Old English statesman" , "He gave the Irish the choice of going ''to hell or to Connacht''" , "Roundhead leader" , "Oliver --, Lord Protector" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.

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