Cryptic crossword clue
Needle Republican in hot water 7

The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 7 letter word PRICKLE

I've seen this crossword clue in Financial Times
P
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Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "Needle" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case needle = prickle.
The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.
This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.

What does PRICKLE mean?

PRICKLE noun
  1. A small, sharp pointed object, such as a thorn.
  2. A tingling sensation of mild discomfort.
  3. A kind of willow basket.
  4. A sieve of hazelnuts, weighing about fifty pounds.
PRICKLE verb
  1. To feel a prickle.
  2. To cause (someone) to feel a prickle; to prick.

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