Saw for example Conservative leading state (6)
I believe the answer is:
cutter
'saw for example' is the definition.
(I know that saw is a type of cutter)
'conservative leading state' is the wordplay.
I cannot really understand how this works, but
'conservative' could be 'c' (UK political abbreviation) and 'c' is located in the answer.
'state' could be 'utter' (both can mean to say) and 'utter' is found within the answer.
No letters remain.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).
(Other definitions for cutter that I've seen before include "Slicing tool of fast sailing ship" , "Vessel (but not a clipper!)" , "Sailing vessel" , "Slicer, chopper, carver" , "Sailing boat - knife, perhaps" .)