Possible Clues:

• Keen, having bent mostly to sing
• Incisive, a new leader of team by ditch
• Forthright Republican interrupting troublemakers at the front entrance
• Cutting fish, worker holds end of kipper
• Hard-hitting
• Keen worker overcome by depression
• Biting fish catching river insect
• Cutting taken from middle of in-tray with delight
• Worker south of fortified area is incisive
• Clear-cut and hard-hitting