Liberal chosen to keep Conservative in charge (8)
I believe the answer is:
eclectic
'liberal' is the definition.
'chosen to keep conservative in charge' is the wordplay.
'chosen' becomes 'elect' ('elect' as an adjective can mean chosen).
'to keep' indicates putting letters inside.
'conservative' becomes 'C' (abbreviation commonly used in UK politics).
'in charge' becomes 'ic' (abbreviation for 'in charge').
'elect' enclosing 'c' is 'eclect'.
'eclect'+'ic'='ECLECTIC'
(Other definitions for eclectic that I've seen before include "All-embracing" , "Chosen from various sources" , "Drawn from many sources" , "Drawing from various sources, as memory does" , "Taking ideas from many sources" .)