Spooner’s declared Starmer “lacklustre beast” (7)
I believe the answer is:
meerkat
'beast' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both animals as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps you can see a link between them that I don't see?
I cannot understand how the remainder of the clue works.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for meerkat that I've seen before include "S. African animal" , "Small South American cat-like animal, has four toes" , "African mongoose often on two feet" , "South African mongoose" , "South African mammal" .)