Senior operatives Liberal Democrats employ revolt leaders (5)

I believe the answer is:

older

'senior' is the definition.
('older' can be a synonym of 'senior')

'operatives liberal democrats employ revolt leaders' is the wordplay.
'leaders' suggests taking the first letters.
The first letters of 'operatives liberal democrats employ revolt' is 'OLDER'.

(Other definitions for older that I've seen before include "More senior" , "Elder" , "more history" , "Less young" , "More advanced in point of time" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.

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