Former leader hosting guys in grand style (9)
I believe the answer is:
gladstone
'former leader' is the definition.
(William Gladstone, 19th-century UK Prime Minister)
'guys in grand style' is the wordplay.
'guys' becomes 'lads'.
'in' indicates putting letters inside.
'grand' becomes 'g' (synonyms).
'style' becomes 'tone' (tone is a kind of style).
'g'+'tone'='gtone'
'lads' inserted within 'gtone' is 'GLADSTONE'.
'hosting' is the link.
I am not very happy about this link. It may be part of another bit of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for gladstone that I've seen before include "Liberal leader" , "Victorian GOM" , "British statesman, four times PM, d. 1898" , "Politician" , "Tangled so like hinged case" .)