Crossword Genius

I'd caress at work, embracing head of government; shameful affairs (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

disgraces

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'shameful affairs' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both states of affairs as well as being plural nouns.
Perhaps you can see a link between them that I can't see?

'i'd caress at work embracing head of government' is the wordplay.
'at work' indicates anagramming the letters.
'embracing' is an insertion indicator.
'head of' indicates taking the first letters.
The first letter of 'government' is 'g'.
'id'+'caress'='idcaress'
'idcaress' anagrammed gives 'disraces'.
'disraces' placed around 'g' is 'DISGRACES'.

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I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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