Crossword Genius

Millions without work around Democratic heartland (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

middle

'heartland' is the definition.
(heartland can mean the central parts of a country)

'millions without work around democratic' is the wordplay.
'millions' becomes 'm' (abbreviation).
'without work' becomes 'idle' (I've seen this before).
'around' indicates putting letters inside.
'democratic' becomes 'd' (political abbreviation).
'idle' going around 'd' is 'iddle'.
'm'+'iddle'='MIDDLE'

(Other definitions for middle that I've seen before include "Heart" , "Equally distant from the extremes" , "Intermediate" , "Its equally distant from all directions" , "Central" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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