Crossword Genius

Girl, not quite eight, reportedly in charge (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

mandate

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

'girl not quite eight reportedly' is the wordplay.
'girl' becomes 'manda' (**).
'not quite' means to remove the first letter.
'reportedly' shows a homophone (sound like).
'eight' sounds like 'ate'.
'ate' with its first letter taken off is 'te'.
'manda'+'te'='MANDATE'

'in' is the link.

(Other definitions for mandate that I've seen before include "Authority conferred on a tandem" , "Authority to act" , "Official order or commission to do something" , "Authorization, official instruction" , "Order - charge" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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