Crossword Genius

Toady Conservative lord's back (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

creep

'toady' is the definition.
(thesaurus)

'conservative lord's back' is the wordplay.
'conservative' becomes 'c' (abbreviation commonly used in UK politics).
'lord' becomes 'peer' (peer is a kind of lord).
'back' is a reversal indicator.
'peer' reversed gives 'reep'.
'c'+'reep'='CREEP'

(Other definitions for creep that I've seen before include "snake" , "Of plants, to grow along the ground" , "Inch" , "Tiptoe" , "Walk slowly, silently" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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