Left in a rush but made a statement (8)
I believe the answer is:
reported
'made a statement' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both to do with communicating as well as being past participle verbs.
Maybe there's an association between them I don't understand?
'left in a rush' is the wordplay.
'left' becomes 'port' (left side of a ship - opposite of starboard).
'in' indicates putting letters inside.
'a rush' becomes 'reed' (plants found by water).
'port' put into 'reed' is 'REPORTED'.
'but' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for reported that I've seen before include "Announced by the media" , "Made a complaint about" , "Chronicled" , "Complained about" , "Type 16 [OF SPEECH]" .)