Initiative unfortunately outing MP (8)
I believe the answer is:
gumption
'initiative' is the definition.
(gumption can mean initiative or ingenuity)
'unfortunately outing mp' is the wordplay.
'unfortunately' indicates an anagram (a bad or unfortunate spelling).
'outing'+'mp'='outingmp'
'outingmp' with letters rearranged gives 'GUMPTION'.
(Other definitions for gumption that I've seen before include "To impugn (anag) - common sense" , "Fortitude and determination" , "Informal common sense or initiative" , "Shrewdness, common-sense" , "Sense; courage" .)