Crossword Genius

Current minister to set about Republican (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

trend

'current' is the definition.
(current can mean a trend or movement)

'minister to set about republican' is the wordplay.
'minister to' becomes 'tend' (minister can mean to nurse or tend to).
'set about' indicates putting letters inside.
'republican' becomes 'r' (abbreviation).
'tend' placed around 'r' is 'TREND'.

(Other definitions for trend that I've seen before include "Become popular on social media" , "The way things are going?" , "Popular current taste" , "swing" , "General direction of change" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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