Crossword Genius

A politician one making excuse (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

alibi

'making excuse' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'a politician one' is the wordplay.
'politician' becomes 'lib'.
'one' becomes 'i' (Roman numeral).
'a'+'lib'+'i'='ALIBI'

(Other definitions for alibi that I've seen before include "Evidence of (or excuse for) being somewhere else at the time" , "Sort of explanation" , "Justification" , "A claim one was elsewhere when crime took place" , "can offer a valid defence against most charges" .)

I've seen this clue in The Sun.
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