Pitt taking on Conservative base, prepared (6)
I believe the answer is:
braced
'prepared' is the definition.
(bracing is a kind of preparing)
'pitt taking on conservative base' is the wordplay.
'pitt' becomes 'brad' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'taking on' indicates putting letters inside.
'conservative' becomes 'C' (UK political abbreviation).
'base' becomes 'e' (mathematical symbol).
'c'+'e'='ce'
'brad' placed around 'ce' is 'BRACED'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for braced that I've seen before include "Prepared for a setback" , "Steadied against a blow or shock" , "made stronger" , "Red cab being supported in position" , "Supported, gave firmness to" .)