It smooths over Labour leader's false report (7)

I believe the answer is:

slander

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

I can't explain the remainder of the clue.

(Other definitions for slander that I've seen before include "Calumny" , "Injurious defamation by spoken words" , "Defame" , "False or malicious report" , "backbiting" .)

I've seen this clue in The Sun.

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