Emulating the First Lady, Carol secures Conservative seat (9)

I believe the answer is:

scrumping

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'emulating the first lady' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this definition defines the answer.

'carol secures conservative seat' is the wordplay.
'carol' becomes 'sing' (carol can mean to sing carols).
'secures' indicates putting letters inside.
'conservative' becomes 'C' (UK political abbreviation).
'seat' becomes 'rump' (synonyms).
'c'+'rump'='crump'
'sing' enclosing 'crump' is 'SCRUMPING'.

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I've seen this clue in The Independent.

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