Ploy to remove deputy? (6)
I believe the answer is:
device
'ploy' is the definition.
(thesaurus)
'remove deputy?' is the wordplay.
'remove' becomes 'de' (I've seen this in other clues).
'deputy?' becomes 'vice' (as in vice-president).
'de'+'vice'='DEVICE'
'to' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for device that I've seen before include "Something made for a particular purpose" , "Scheme for achieving something, or a trick" , "Gadget or ruse" , "Instrument - plan" , "Gadget, piece of apparatus" .)