CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 Settle the bill for first place, at heart, on the way (8)

5 Standard issue for a minister (6)

9 Were old princes forced to plot together? (8)

10 Is about to judge when to buy things back (6)

12 At short notice, barely had to adapt (6) 13 Move around an Italian city (5) 16 Select something for consideration, and choose one before others (6)

17 One adopting a low profile might still annoy a driver here (4,4)

20 Did man drone on about being held in custody (2,6)

21 Boss took one round to an artist’s workroom (6)

23 Popular group depicted in a spare corner ... (5)

25 ... with wrong group at the beginning (6) 28 One grows up with some showy flowers (6) 29 Reached an empty drive so late, it was quite bleak (8)

30 Top writer left an old prison, to make it ineffective (6)

31 Amend a few minor elements in publications (8)

DOWN

1 A leading figure had to perform, in reality (4) 2 Has a significant part of some townships (4) 3 Made piper play. It’s unattainable (4,5) 4 Appear by chance to increase the volume on the radio (4,2)

6 Warning of danger in drink, right at the end (5)

7 She’s on parade, and serves at the front of an attack (10)

8 Race after small number on a major road, by choice (10)

11 Roles reversed, wearing a thong (5) 14 Make short work of a situation, when out of office (10)

15 Is coming into line with a record. It’s quite daunting (10)

18 Soldiers may get dressed up in uniform, ready for action (6,3)

19 A band of brothers in a state of wedlock (5) 22 Wait for a road-race to finish (6)

24 Did an English runner get right inside a temporary shelter? (5)

26 Tom took on an old Roman statesman (4) 27 Takes a chance, but wins without one (4)