Local leader takes nine up to revolutionary leader (5)
I believe the answer is:
lenin
'revolutionary leader' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'local leader takes nine up' is the wordplay.
'leader' suggests taking the first letters.
'takes' says to put letters next to each other.
'up' says the letters should be written backwards (in down clue: letters go upwards).
The initial letter of 'local' is 'l'.
'nine' reversed gives 'enin'.
'l'+'enin'='LENIN'
'to' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for lenin that I've seen before include "First premier of the Soviet Union, d. 1924" , "Early Soviet leader" , "Soviet Union's first premier" , "V. I. -, Soviet politician and revolutionary" , "Leader of the Russian Revolution" .)