Partnership lacking say in loyalty (8)

I believe the answer is:

alliance

'partnership' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

I cannot understand how the rest of the clue works.

(Other definitions for alliance that I've seen before include "Marriage - union" , "Association for mutual benefit" , "Kind of partnership with canaille" , "Union for mutual benefit" , "Union, association" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.

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