Lapsed communist taking exit (9)

I believe the answer is:

regressed

'lapsed' is the definition.
('regress' can be a synonym of 'lapse')

'communist taking exit' is the wordplay.
'communist' becomes 'red' (red can informally mean communist).
'taking' indicates putting letters inside.
'exit' becomes 'egress' (I've seen this in another clue).
'red' placed around 'egress' is 'REGRESSED'.

(Another definition for regressed that I've seen is " Fell back to a previous state".)

I've seen this clue in The Daily Express.

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