It may be used in sacking male representative (4)
I believe the answer is:
hemp
'it may be used in sacking' is the definition.
The definition suggests a singular noun which matches the answer.
'male representative' is the wordplay.
'male' becomes 'he' (he refers to a man).
'representative' becomes 'mp' (Member of Parliament, a representative).
'he'+'mp'='HEMP'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for hemp that I've seen before include "Rope-making fibre" , "Source of drug" , "Marijuana" , "Cannabis sativa" , "Grass" .)