Crossword Genius

Now pay the price over Cummings's leadership? (2,4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

at once

'now' is the definition.
(thesaurus)

'pay the price over cummings's leadership?' is the wordplay.
'pay the price' becomes 'atone' (I've seen this before).
'over' indicates putting letters inside.
'leadership?' suggests taking the first letters (I've seen 'leadership' mean this).
The first letter of 'cummingss' is 'c'.
'atone' enclosing 'c' is 'AT ONCE'.

(Other definitions for at once that I've seen before include "Immediately, this instant" , "This instant, without delay" , "'Without delay (2,4)'" , "This instant, hop to it" , "on the spot" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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