CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

Across

1. One assists Conservative girl, not the best (6-5)

9. Bad city wife’s edict once (4,3)

10. It’s needed to hear a murder suspect (7)

11. Like small beast of burden (3)

12. Tacitly mistreated in a spiteful way (7)

13. State aims for first day of month in Rome (7)

14. The main place to sit? Not quite (3)

15. It’s often seen in garden or overturned container (5)

17. Greek character left diamonds for youngster (5)

18. It detected a submarine diving in Channel initially (5)

20. Beside a lake playing golf (5)

22. Manoeuvring boat back wards in part of canal (3)

24. Fodder collector’s foray arranged in outskirts of Hawick (7)

25. A volume is brought in, split into tiny units (7)

26. Conclude part of 4 (3)

27. Irish writer vacated library in haste (7)

28. Spoil uniform in Dingle unexpectedly (7)

29. Published second cryptic clue note in Times: ‘It’s not

fully clear’ (11)

Down

1. Office worker drops hints that involved securing Yankee (9,6)

2. Miner runs after sheep dog (7)

3. Scandinavian country missing Republican? Not at all (2,3)

4. Clubs censored wide spread increase in noise (9)

5. Paint new Lycra piece, excluding odd bits (7)

6. Lover is thinking about someone who’s withdrawn (9,6)

7. Doctor hopes to get over cold periods (6)

8. First of all thought about being entertained (6)

16. Results of fighting British flunkeys guarding earl? (5,4)

18. Crude hashtag leaving Henry shocked (6)

19. U.S. agents arrest informer going round old country (7)

21. Binge or diet? It’s engag ing Tynesider (7)

23. Article on sea based on a central idea (6)

25. Cheers aid wayward English university (5)