CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

Across

1. Like the Battle of Britain; blame Croatia for it? (6,6) 8. Very old chair, rotten, taken into account (7) 9. Lou and Matt: mixed, product of mixed parentage (7) 11. Where druids feted poets, except purest amazingly (10) 12. Open-air party in fine summer in Normandy (4) 14. Strict religious group puts Iran in trouble (8) 16. Urge 9 to collect Simpson on way back (6) 17. Very little information returned unfinished (3) 19. I get new suit repaired in appropriate place (2,4) 21. Indecisive state in party faction: … (8) 24. … thirty-one Independents left initially for Labour (4) 25. XI tour Germany in, suitable sport, e.g. discus (5,5) 27. Cycle with tyre going round? That’s fundamental (7) 28. Nation state … (7) 29. … changes to fairer system, breaking Maoists’ creed (12)

Down

1. Person who charges a Catholic cocaine addict (7) 2. Land and buildings: the last and latest are wrecked (4,6) 3. I’d contributed to stress, causing mishap (8) 4. Ordinary green space (6) 5. Spy breakwater (4) 6. Start decorating, papering over 1930s style (3,4) 7. The French 100m runner has ruler and office machine (5,7) 10. Finished bathing maybe? Good, pack this for brief trip (9,3) 13. Busy neurosurgeon or not, not giving much away (10) 15. Noticed Irish writer leaving Howth Head (3) 18. Robbery for which 10’s not needed? (8) 20. Defraud pork suppliers, about 550 (7) 22. When English glaciers moved, shedding left and right (3,4) 23. Roger Bannister, say, hosted student bandleader (6) 26. Reverberation from the choir (4)