Straightforward, but not straight forward, we hear (10)
I believe the answer is:
forthright
'straightforward' is the definition.
(synonyms)
'forward we hear' is the wordplay.
'forward' becomes 'forth' (synonyms).
'we hear' becomes 'right' (I can't justify this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'forth'+'right'='FORTHRIGHT'
'but not straight' is the link.
This may not be right. Some or all of it may be part of another bit of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for forthright that I've seen before include "Frank and uninhibited" , "Candid" , "straightforward" , "Direct, outspoken" , "Open" .)