CRYPTIC CROSSWORD
ACROSS
1 See 7 Down
4 Stickler for change runs slowly away (8)
9 See 24 Down
10 Application for council election starts to get tough (3,5)
12 Liberator’s setback in Enniskillen – no, Cork! (8)
13 See 14 Down
15/20 Chess machine following lead is left in European Union, submerged in river (4,4)
16 An amateur edited Star Wars, missing the first 24Dn 9Ac (4,6)
19 On the downside, pack members make cash alternative (5,5)
20 See 15
23 Down, paradoxically, when you’re on these pills (6)
25 Extremely rude notice at the end of the day, with limited aptitude for humour (5,3)
27 Regaling constituents, showing a lot of spirit (5,3)
28 Every other theatre has cut off sightline for 24Dn 9Ac (6)
29 Utter dross, essentially, then hurried back initially absent for so long (8)
30 Grandchildren, niece embrace 24Dn 9Ac (6)
YESTERDAY’S SOLUTION:
Across: 1 Hip-hop, 4 Imitated, 9 Lustres, 11 Marengo, 12 Rates, 14/25D Used force, 19 Statuary bronze, 23/17 Grim fate, 25/2/24 First past the post, 27 Pak choi, 28 Martian, 29 Sotheby’s
DOWN 1
Starts to swim across loch but nothing missing for 24Dn 9Ac (7)
2 Down below, a bat moved (2,1,3,3)
3 Former international group starts to need time to quit the stage (6)
5 See 19
6 Terrific a fête as snack bar (4,4)
7/1A Trolls are an upset for joint 24Dn 9Ac (5,6)
8 One calling to order hi-fi equipment (7)
11 Launch towards plane hiding in central Belgium (5,2)
14/13 Encrypted scud data taken in a surprise assault (1,6,6)
17 Bore with range skillfully worked (4-5)
18 Way to prod 24Dn 9Ac (8)
19/5 A 24Dn 9Ac smashed youth centre glass doors (7,4)
21 Section of text remedies tip (7)
22 A challenge coming to grips with women pop-up producers? (6)
24/9 Political head rarely adept, unfortunately (5,6)
26 Bar set up for story-teller (4) it is, part of the menu in
Down: 1 Holyrood, 3 Ogres, 5 Members system, 6/13 Tory peer, 7 Tunes in, 8/30 D’Hondt method, 10 Supermajority, 15 Scar, 18 Destined, 20/16 Think it over for a second, 21 Norwich, 22 Agapes, 26 Ghee