What does the cryptic crossword clue "Functioning with company, leader of party once confronting us? (8)" mean?

The definition is "confronting us?". The wordplay uses a charade (building blocks). ON (synonym="functioning") + CO (synonym="CO") + MING (synonym="Ming Campbell, former leader of the Liberal Democrats") = ONCOMING; definition: "confronting us?" The answer is ONCOMING.

Functioning with company, leader of party once confronting us? (8)

Guardian Cryptic #28993 | 16 Down | 2023-02-14 flower

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