It backfired on the British leaders and it is reported in the gossip column (6)
I believe the answer is:
titbit
'it backfired on the british leaders and it is reported in the gossip column' is the definition.
The definition suggests a singular noun which matches the answer.
'it backfired on the british leaders and it' is the wordplay.
'backfired' says the letters should be written in reverse.
'on' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'leaders' says to take the initial letters.
'and' says to put letters next to each other.
The initial letters of 'the british' is 'tb'.
'it' backwards is 'ti'.
'ti'+'tb'+'it'='TITBIT'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for titbit that I've seen before include "Small tasty bit of food" , "Small item of gossip" , "Choice item" , "Dainty morsel" , "Small item of tasty food" .)