Mischievously inscribe an item with tip from Tommy Cooper maybe (7,8)
I believe the answer is:
cabinet minister
'cooper maybe' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both people as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'mischievously inscribe an item with tip from tommy' is the wordplay.
'mischievously' indicates an anagram (I've seen this in other clues).
'with' is an insertion indicator.
'tip from' indicates taking the first letters.
The first letter of 'tommy' is 't'.
'inscribe'+'an'+'item'='inscribeanitem'
'inscribeanitem' anagrammed gives 'cabinetminiser'.
'cabinetminiser' enclosing 't' is 'CABINET MINISTER'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for cabinet minister that I've seen before include "member of government" , "May perhaps" , "high-ranking member?" , "senior politician" , "went down to provide 22 24 [WHISKY GALORE] - with 17d" .)