CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

Across

7. Wrong idea of NCO is topic men bandy about (13)

8. Printing plate to opt for and make poetry of (11)

12. A number of directors in a ship (6) 14. Speak evil of me after turning deaf (6) 16. A three-foot stand to be as right as (6) 18. Pick Socialist leader to return to parliament (6)

19. Making one dizzy over suiting that's cut up (11)

23. The uniting of nations: cool, I'd put it (13)

Down

1. Fair-weather punishment (4) 2. About 0.4 hectare, or the loss from same (4)

3. Made one in duet form (6) 4. There's never been a better CD (6)

5. It will support one's sojourn (4) 6. An attitude that may present one with a problem (4)

9. Like lions to form into one line (7) 10. Tableland with a lea put out on it (7) 11. Physical education on the street: what a nuisance! (4)

12. How one's voice breaks – a lot! (4) 13. Rex begins with the old corn! (3) 15. Sheep necked like a horse, or vice versa? (3)

17. Toy with one's dessert perhaps (6) 18. A rumpus and the sort of din to be bashful about (6)

19. Old instrument might need oil after start of voluntary (4)

20. Foolhardy symptom of rubella (4) 21. Goat seen to have breakfast cereal (4) 22. And shortly it will be et cetera (4)

Yesterday's solution

Across 1. Accelerator 7. Bounder 9. Fell 11. Union 12. Candid 14. Antirrhinum 18. Oddity 20. Taboo 22. Doze 23. Terrace 24. Underwriter Down 2. Caution 3. Earn 4. Oread 5. About 6. Glide 8. Dentists 10. Canister 13. Cry 15. Umbrage 16. Bonds 17. Money 19. Dozen 21. Stew