Looked to shelter socialist (6)
I believe the answer is:
leered
'looked' is the definition.
(leering is a kind of looking)
'shelter socialist' is the wordplay.
'shelter' becomes 'lee' (as in lee side, the side sheltered from wind).
'socialist' becomes 'red' (socialism is often associated with the colour red).
'lee'+'red'='LEERED'
'to' is the link.
(Other definitions for leered that I've seen before include "Looked and smiled lasciviously" , "Looked or stared lasciviously" , "Looked lecherously" , "Look suggestively" , "Ogled" .)