Protest singers led by Conservative politicians (9)

I believe the answer is:

democrats

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'politicians' is the definition.
(Democrat is an example)

'protest singers led by conservative' is the wordplay.
'protest' becomes 'demo' (demonstration).
'singers led' becomes 'rats' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should believe this answer much more).
'by' says to put letters next to each other.
'conservative' becomes 'C' (UK political abbreviation).
'rats' put after 'c' is 'crats'.
'demo'+'crats'='DEMOCRATS'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for democrats that I've seen before include "They believe in majority rule" , "US political party" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.

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