GUARDIAN CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1,18 Duplicitous as in political sphere, also phoniest allies, pair struggling to maintain conceit, primarily? (7,12) 5 See 21 9 Somewhere in Asia, hotel’s neighbour? (5) 10 Sadly, the traditions of US apartments? (3,6) 11 Where Jack accommodated divine liturgy easily, initially (10) 12 See 24 14 One performing delicate work drops into flower (5,7) 18 See 1 21,5 Wearing tie, figure carrying small black jumper (4,7) 22 Man after hit story that’s hot (10) 25 Save some nice old works (9) 26 Not exactly a spell (5) 27 Stalk headless monster in bar (7) 28 Bird for Trump? (7)

DOWN

1 Superior numbers ultimately high, one senses? (6) 2 Suffer demise, nation lacking leadership getting comeuppance (6) 3 Where beer may be found to contain copper? Wrong (10) 4 See 6 5 Last two standing in a line wearing boxers? (9) 6,4 Chelsea so poor, Oxford ties? (9) 7 Closed one end up high (8) 8 Soft bowing (8) 13 Pictures I almost deleted, dead say (10) 15 Compound where I’m being carried round on large animal (4,5) 16 Find endless fruit covering lip (6,2) 17 Save bags to have everything you need when power’s lost (8) 19 No more time after half of air gone (2,4) 20 Large hole where bottom caught, with fundament in fact squeezed up (6) 23 Toll cut, tax at first went down (5) 24,12 Creator claims to witness decay (2,2,4)