One works hard to put party above monarch (8)
I believe the answer is:
labourer
'one works hard to' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this defines the answer.
'party above monarch' is the wordplay.
'party' becomes 'Labour Party' (Labour Party is an example).
'above monarch' becomes 'er' (abbreviation for Elizabeth Regina, British Queen. I am not sure about the 'above' bit.).
'labour'+'er'='LABOURER'
'put' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for labourer that I've seen before include "Manual worker" , "Unskilled worker" , "He is said to be worthy of his hire" , "Hercules, perhaps?" , "Person who works with their hands" .)