Crossword Genius

Elected ruler is protecting pound, creating suspicion (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

inkling

'suspicion' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'elected ruler is protecting pound' is the wordplay.
'elected' becomes 'in'.
'ruler' becomes 'king' (king is a kind of ruler**).
'is protecting' indicates putting letters inside.
'pound' becomes 'l'.
'king' placed around 'l' is 'kling'.
'in'+'kling'='INKLING'

'creating' is the link.

(Other definitions for inkling that I've seen before include "Slightest idea" , "Thought" , "Linking with suspicion or hint" , "Vague suspicion" , "Conception" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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