Reputation overwhelming Liberal lover (5)
I believe the answer is:
flame
'lover' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'reputation overwhelming liberal' is the wordplay.
'reputation' becomes 'fame' (fame is a kind of reputation).
'overwhelming' indicates putting letters inside.
'liberal' becomes 'l' (abbreviation).
'fame' placed around 'l' is 'FLAME'.
(Other definitions for flame that I've seen before include "Light; (old) love" , "Orange-red; set alight" , "Evidence of fire" , "Flickering tongue of fire" , "Burning gas from fire" .)