Relationships in trouble over independence issue (8)
I believe the answer is:
liaisons
'relationships' is the definition.
(I know this)
'trouble over independence issue' is the wordplay.
'trouble over' becomes 'lia' (I've seen this in other clues).
'independence' becomes 'I'.
'issue' becomes 'sons' (issue can mean someone's offspring).
'lia'+'i'+'sons'='LIAISONS'
'in' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for liaisons that I've seen before include "Romance or mediations" , "Affairs or mediations" , "Illicit love affairs" , "Alison is embroiled in affairs" , "Secret relationships, often illicit" .)