Welcomes allegations -- under a cloud at first (8)
I believe the answer is:
acclaims
'welcomes' is the definition.
'allegations under a cloud at first' is the wordplay.
'allegations' becomes 'claims'.
'under' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'at first' says to take the initial letters.
The first letter of 'cloud' is 'c'.
'a'+'c'='ac'
'claims' after 'ac' is 'ACCLAIMS'.
(Other definitions for acclaims that I've seen before include "Cheers" , "Extols, lauds" , "Hails, lauds" , "Praises vociferously" , "Praises loudly" .)