Crossword Genius

What Raab might do for Johnson upset stupid English earl (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

deputise

'what raab might do for johnson' is the definition.
(Dominic Raab has acted as Boris Johnson's deputy)

'upset stupid english earl' is the wordplay.
'upset' is an anagram indicator.
'english' becomes 'e' (abbreviation).
'earl' becomes 'e'.
'stupid'+'e'='stupide'
'stupide' with letters rearranged gives 'deputis'.
'deputis'+'e'='DEPUTISE'

(Other definitions for deputise that I've seen before include "Appoint as stand-in" , "Appoint as representative" , "Appoint as a substitute" , "Stand in for" , "Act as delegate for a person" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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