Crossword Genius

Layabout offering a treatment for warts to a key figure (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

wastrel

'layabout' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'a treatment for warts to a key figure' is the wordplay.
'a treatment for' indicates anagramming the letters (I've seen this in other clues).
'to a key' becomes 'e' (I've seen this in other clues).
'figure' becomes 'l' (I've seen this in other clues).
'warts' anagrammed gives 'wastr'.
'wastr'+'e'+'l'='WASTREL'

'offering' is the link.

(Other definitions for wastrel that I've seen before include "Person who dissipates resources self-indulgently" , "A useless, good for nothing fellow" , "Useless person" , "Layabout" , "Ne'er-do-well" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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