Imagine Labour's behind, with Conservative party leading (8)

I believe the answer is:

consider

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'imagine' is the definition.
(thesaurus)

'labour's behind with conservative party leading' is the wordplay.
'behind' suggests the final letters.
'with' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'conservative' becomes 'C' (UK political abbreviation).
'party' becomes 'onside' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'leading' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
The last letter of 'labour' is 'r'.
'c' put next to 'onside' is 'conside'.
'r' put after 'conside' is 'CONSIDER'.

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(Other definitions for consider that I've seen before include "Suppose" , "Hold" , "Ponder on" , "Give thought to" , "Look at someone or something thoughtfully" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.

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