CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

No 16,834

ACROSS

1 Journo covers Unionist politician, bishop and big swimmer (8) 5 Service providing range (6) 9 Chase copy in southeastern banks (8) 10 Visit American area subjected to friction (6) 12 Race Burke’s collaborator (4) 13 Unplanned changes at the start making western (10) 15 Boozing heavily in new Bridge Inn with leading man (5,8) 19 Alpine course that may end in disaster? (8,5) 23 Climbers, say, needing ropes around soldier maybe (10) 25 Work with a

large gemstone (4) 28 The kind of characters that are inclined to show emphasis (6) 29 Drive away sergeant

who’s busted (8) 30 Panic after hydrogen’s brought in (6) 31 B Bryson goes crazy about English snootiness (8)

DOWN

1 Climax of rowing crew following finish in Hammersmith (6) 2 Scrooge is terribly

remiss, losing shillings (5) 3 Quietly clean up the result

of drinking too quickly? (4) 4 Cryptic clue writer put

in little room (7) 6 Saw, for instance, a US

lawman brought up (5) 7 One plays it alone to Israeli

after refreshment (9) 8 Aircraft body displays EU

flags at rear of plane (8) 11 Pioneer releases

a single mole (4) 14 Bargain root vegetable’s

standard dropped (4) 15 Very clever students in

Britain qualified (9) 16 Teetotal Democrat

on track (3) 17 Small number fell,

going up crevice (4) 18 Exceptional sculpted pieces based on aluminium (8) 20 Sailors keep fit

in downpour (4) 21 Western hat’s middle adjusted for family member (7) 22 Needing a rest, agent

accepts shelter (6) 24 Unsophisticated citizen

wasting time (5) 26 Quaker beginning

to enjoy pasta (5) 27 Taxi carries recipe

for seafood (4)