Last Week’s Cryptic

Mungo MacCallum’s Cryptic

Mungo MacCallum is a political journalist and commentator and the author of several books. He is

The Saturday Paper’s crossword writer.

ACROSS

1. Latex masseuse ( 6 )

4. Afterword for a theologian: eliminate hesitation! ( 8 )

9. Australian with two animals – could be Leon and Noel! ( 7 )

11. For rebels, super is misleading ( 7 )

12. Dig out little enclosure ( 5 )

13. Two axes – cut back and sharpen percussion instrument ( 9 )

14. Dud grid – act angrily. He’s hooked! (4,6)

16. Live article – could be broad ( 4 )

19. Team can be on or off ( 4 )

20. Massacres, but Abbot holds parties (10)

22. A daffodil for the self-obsessed boy ( 9 )

23. Quick drink with Capone, that’s the sum of it ( 5 )

25. Travel to source of oil for city in Libya ( 7 )

26. Charge after cult, then part ( 7 )

27. Guide paper to the cheapest berths ( 8 )

28. Puts off – puts off animal skins by the sound of it! ( 6 )

DOWN

1. Kerbs RD ( 9 )

2. Hooray for British restraining order! ( 5 )

3. As an example, French culture – a pure one ( 8 )

5. Does the dirty XX (6-7)

6. Rupee smashed, about zero where 3. can be found ( 6 )

7. Meal working over Eastern Standard Time, but not right ( 9 )

8. Sum up, ease, they say, into French museum ( 5 )

10. Glibness, both good and bad (5,8)

15. Stress beneath the queue ( 9 )

17. Refuge with fish – or little birds ( 9 )

18. Reformed East Bloc – it’s a hindrance ( 8 )

21. Building worker reported severity ( 6 )

22. Class working up records ( 5 )

24. Tour east – rubbish ( 5 )