Tough image, right for Conservative (4)
I believe the answer is:
iron
'tough' is the definition.
'image right for conservative' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite understand how this works, but
'right' could be 'r' (common abbreviation) and 'r' is found in the answer.
The remaining letters 'ion' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't understand.
This may be the basis of clue (or it may be nonsense).
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for iron that I've seen before include "Implacable - golf club" , "Press clothes" , "Club to smooth the cloth" , "Main part of steel" , "Smooth - press - club" .)