even with the answers, still puzzled, I get whats being done, but better explanations of some answers would help

Managers Group

Ron Atkinson (AKA Big Ron, or Rowan Atkinson)
Matt Busby (Busby character was used by BT in adverts)
Mourinho (self titled Special One, but not recently)
Dave Sexton (Sexton is a leader in a church)

Labour

Keir Starmer (lawyer voted remain)
Emily Thornberry (shouldn't need explanation)
Lisa Nandy (Andy Pandy, sounds like Nandy)
Rebecca Long Bailey (Extended = Long, Court = Old Bailey)

Monopoly

Think these are self explanatory.

Opposition

Wiliam Hague (The Hague is in Netherlands)
Tony Blair (Linda Blair starred in The Exorcist)
Michael Foot (put your foot it in, which he did)
John Smith (most popular / common name in England)

I realize this is a broken record now, but Connecting Walls are not Cryptic Crosswords. The trick is finding the connection between clear contents, NOT puzzling out the content of individual squares. This misses the point entirely.

I'd say you're missing the point. Grids are not compulsory- if you don't like it, don't do it. Lots of people enjoy these. If you want formulaic, repetitive, stick to the rules, must- be- like- only- connect- or- I'm- not- playing- formats, stick to watching the programme. The beauty of the multitude of setters, the range and community of people willing to work very hard to create these, is VARIETY! I for one love original formats- they encourage flexibility of mind, you could do with this! Frankly you ARE a broken record- I've rarely seen a positive comment on here from you, it's easy to pick fault- have a go yourself! Sorry everyone to rant but I'm sick of a small minority of commentators contributing nothing but negativity. Mike drop.

ps Darksky- didn't have a Scooby mate but keep at it!

"I've rarely seen a positive comment" -- then stop reading selectively maybe?

Go back, take a look, I've had one nice comment from you, rarely seen any others, or anything kinder than "nice but..." be a little self aware. We're not hurting anyone, we're having ideas, working hard, sharing. No-one is trying to make anyone feel stupid- challenged, stimulated, yes. But pedants and critics betray a one upmanship which is intended to put down. This is not the forum for an argument, but it needed saying, you've upset people before and Darksky has done a lot to make this site good. What do you contribute?

Agree with Puzzled on this, I get what is being done, buts its 3 minutes to work out a cryptic clue, then try to guess a connection, Rowan Atkinson didn't mange Man u, so why not just say big Ron, the Rowan bit makes you think differently, also explanations for labour weren't the clues used.

@ Matty - The clue for Atkinson was 'Rowan or Big Ron', both of which give the same answer. Big Ron I thought was too obscure, whereas more people will have heard of Rowan Atkinson.

The labour reply was an explanation of each of the answers (as you asked for), not a repeat of the clues.