### Clue: Old councillors' last word about backing Socialist line (8)
### Answer: ALDERMEN 
 ### Explanation: Definition: Old councillors
 AMEN(the last word in prayer) ***containing***(about) **reversal of**(backing) { RED(a colour indicating persons or things Socialist) + L(abbrev. for "line") }.
Answer: Senior members of a local council, elected by the other council members, in England, Wales and Ireland before the position was abolished in 1974