Crossword Genius

Modern left party’s ending — we had a new union member (5-3)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

newly-wed

'a new union member' is the definition.
(union can mean marriage)

'modern left party's ending we had' is the wordplay.
'modern' becomes 'new' (associated in meaning).
'left' becomes 'L' (common abbreviation).
'ending' indicates one should take the final letters.
'we had' becomes 'we'd' (contraction of 'we had').
The final letter of 'party' is 'y'.
'new'+'l'+'y'+'wed'='NEWLY-WED'

(Another definition for newly-wed that I've seen is " Person only just married".)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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