Crossword Genius

Electoral indicator, maybe, with number on Big Ben? (10)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

bellwether

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'electoral indicator' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I don't understand how they can define each other.

'with number on big ben?' is the wordplay.
'with' becomes 'w' (abbreviation).
'number' becomes 'ether' (anaesthetic, something which numbs).
'on' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'big ben?' becomes 'bell' (I can't justify this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'w'+'ether'='wether'
'wether' put after 'bell' is 'BELLWETHER'.

'maybe' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for bellwether that I've seen before include "Leader of the flock" , "Sheep that leads the flock -- we tell Herb (anag)" , "Leading sheep of a flock" , "Leading sheep; trendsetter" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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