Note leftwing delegate manages to secure Offaly and Laois, for instance (8)
I believe the answer is:
midlands
'note leftwing delegate manages' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this defines the answer.
'secure offaly and laois for instance' is the wordplay.
I cannot really see how this works, but
'secure' could be 'land' (land can mean to secure or obtain) and 'land' is found within the answer.
The remaining letters 'mids' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't see.
This explanation may well be incorrect...
'to' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for midlands that I've seen before include "Counties in the centre of Ireland" , "SECOND PART OF 17" , "SECOND PART OF 20" , "interior" , "Central area" .)