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I have sharpened my pencil and notepad again but you can forget the stockings and heels in this weather! Stever can't access the internet just now so here is this week's clueless-

Welcome to Clueless, our informal weekly clue setting competition.
The idea is to compose a cryptic clue to a given word or phrase.
The winner of the previous week's competition both sets the word to be clued and judges the entries for the current week.
The judge's decision is final and reasons may or may not be given at the judge's discretion. It is customary for the judge to award a virtual prize to the winner.
Multiple entries may be submitted and new competitors are particularly welcome.
Clues should be submitted by 6pm BST on Wednesday 21 June with the winner being announced shortly after (or as soon as I get decent internet access that day or beyond ... sorry).
The answer to be clued - and continuing Paul's theme a little longer - is:
NICOLA STURGEON (6,8)
Please parse your clue unless it's obvious, thanks.
Have fun.

Sorry, stevea.
In spite of his care to send a word file so I didn't see the word to clue before you all did, I doubt I shall enter this week.Long words bother me!

Coin to finally encourage the leader (6,8)

COIN out - NICO
finally - LAST
encourage - URGE ON

Independent Scotland almost forged, press forward is her cry (6,8)

I/Scotlan, forged....Nicola St
press forward....urge on

Nat King Cole - astronaut missing at 1000 orbits (6,8)

"Nat" - definition
Anagrind - orbits
Fodder - KING COLE ASTRONAUT minus AT K

A lie, Count Strong has no time for leading lady (6, 8)

I've missed a word out in mine

Coin out to finally encourage the leader (6,8)

Seems congratulations are in order though steams coming out her ears (6, 8)

Pollack - strangely, a fish that followed another to the Dee (6,8)

"Pollack" - COLIN, "strangely" -NICOL. "a fish" - A STURGEON
"another" (fish) "to the Dee" SALMON + D

...or a variant

Change coin to finally encourage the leader (6,8)