Crossword Genius

With heavy blows, a politician may be shut out (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

thumps

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'with heavy blows' is the definition.
'thumps' can be an answer for 'blows' (I have seen 'Heavy blows ' mean 'thumps' so perhaps 'blows' could also mean 'thumps'). I'm not certain of the 'with heavy' bit.

'a politician may be shut out' is the wordplay.
'a politician' becomes 'mp'.
'may' is an anagram indicator (I've seen 'might' mean this (I've seen this in other clues)).
'out' is an insertion indicator.
'shut' with letters rearranged gives 'thus'.
'mp' put inside 'thus' is 'THUMPS'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for thumps that I've seen before include "Hits" , "Beats or strikes heavily with fist" , "Heavy blows with the hand" , "Dull, heavy blows" , "Whacks" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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