Daily Answers

7-across – The French story about working much less : LETALONE

9-across – 2 great in coat, did you say? : PARKER

10-across – 2 great understands sounds : GETZ

11-across – 2 great calls bird for Spooner? : MILESDAVIS

12-across – Fuse blown at centre of bulb — that’s handy : USEFUL

14-across – No stomach for chase, vegans sabotaged hunt : SCAVENGE

15-across – Spot something warmer then? : NOTICE

17-across – Labour leader wearing retro styles rarely : SELDOM

20-across – 2 great, tall climbing plant for Spooner? : PEGGYLEE

22-across – 2 great into jamming, usually : MINGUS

23-across – Those blowing hot and cold in Scottish town right to invade Outer Hebrides : HAIRDRIERS

24-across – Submissive man evidently embarrassing kids, initially : MEEK

25-across – Sheep almost swallowing large falcon : MERLIN

26-across – Mug with method, his work instrumental? : STEINWAY

1-down – 2 great continues to fade? : PETERSON

2-down – Stuff and nonsense noted? : JAZZ

3-down – Stiff examination encapsulating misery primarily, fellow gets over it : FORMAL

4-down – Deserter, say, beneath a river : APOSTATE

5-down – A dictator finally gone mad, end of world catastrophically? : ARMAGEDDON

6-down – Inject 2 with energy using a needle : SEWING

8-down – Over the way, priest welcoming new recruit : ENLIST

13-down – Character last seen breaking into improvisation of rag, lifted 2 great : FITZGERALD

16-down – Horse galloped over line finally, to see 2 great : COLTRANE

18-down – Flower given to head of promotions in Barking, IT director onto it? : MOUSEPAD

19-down – Holiday bay : RECESS

21-down – European title ending for rival, tough finish! : ENAMEL

22-down – Taken in the wrong direction, one sliding down the motorway? : MISLED

24-down – 2 great in prayer : MONK

8-across – Wooded area and lake conceal backward-looking rip off : ARBOREAL

9-across – With 26 across, often found quietly replacing leading firms : POUND

10-across – Historical payment for spy to remove uniform : SCOT

11-across – Sole trader on the 24? : FISHMONGER

12-across – Out-of-town supermarket admits responsibility : OWNSUP

14-across – Money man gets parole — at last, free : BUCKSHEE

16-across – Type of apostrophe produced by semi-literate costermonger : GROCERS

18-across – Odd? Put a revised total : ADDUPTO

21-across – Make good lunch when? Late afternoon, say? : ATONEFOR

23-across – See 2 : OFFICE

24-across – Eminent setter making changes to the traditional marketplace : HIGHSTREET

26-across – See 13 : SHOP

27-across – Come back without second part of 9 : OUNCE

28-across – One offers concessions in a shopping centre to wipe out first of retailers to go back : APPEASER

1-down – One cause of decline in the 24: filthy WC, repair needed : PRICEWAR

2-down – Before, it was on every 24; after, unavailable, it’s frozen : POST

3-down – Make stronger source of protein more pricey? : BEEFUP

4-down – Shut down empty bakery, conveniently located : CLOSEBY

5-down – Set up plans for cheap source of protein : SPAM

6-down – Deception in amusing farce : FUNNYSTUFF

7-down – Stick to what you’ll find in the classifieds? : ADHERE

13-down – Temporarily transfer worker to grass: it’s growing on the 24 : SECONDHAND

15-down – How to pay for something from an 11? : COD

17-down – One is on top of recording every foul : REF

19-down – No more credit to do minimal business? : TICKOVER

20-down – Butcher learns a place to keep things that might go off : ARSENAL

22-down – Boatman changing direction for chemist’s last place on the 24 : TAILOR

23-down – Love, constant, above all — Boatman’s sea creatures : OCTOPI

25-down – A long walk for Mum going out with market disbanded : TREK

26-down – Criticise half-hearted shopping centres, when erected : SLAM

7-across – Cheat plays field, nicking diamonds and rupees : FIDDLER

8-across – Drink annually provided by one in cricket club : PACIFIC

9-across – Top one of 15 is one of 15 : LION

10-across – Big game’s excellent winger : SUPERBOWL

12-across – She showed some initiative in revolution : EVITA

13-across – Device for electricians makes them more nervous : OHMMETER

15-across – Men in cabarets strip off : CATS

16-across – Not at home during quiet quarter : SOUTH

17-across – She’s eliminated artist from unarmed combat : KATE

18-across – Consumed about city vehicle offering many options : ALACARTE

20-across – Boys now and then nurse sick goat : BILLY

21-across – Pulled over lad running round with beak : HOOKNOSED

22-across – Pound for a book : EZRA

24-across – Burn fuel occasionally in entrance : RIVULET

25-across – Spook horse in show with mike : PHANTOM

1-down – Show privates one after performance : GIGI

2-down – Poster girl’s getting over old breathing restriction : ADENOIDS

3-down – Judge is having to defend hostess : GEISHA

4-down – Rising cheer welcoming politician’s preparation to speak : HARRUMPH

5-down – Sailor comes into fortune with plenty of 21 : PILOSE

6-down – Miss large equipment being erected : GIRL

11-down – Impresarios botch up records : PRODUCERS

12-down – Message held up in parliament : EMAIL

14-down – No introduction needed for elite competitors : ENTRY

16-down – Vocalist enlists pair that should raise game : SPRINGER

17-down – Sort English news in Kentucky county : KILKENNY

19-down – Refrain in Switzerland or America : CHORUS

20-down – New growth had damaged idol : BUDDHA

21-down – Shock personnel keeping fit : HAIR

23-down – Top that’s hit in anger : ROOF

1-across – Retiring age soared, say, in regime such as ours? : WELFARESTATE

9-across – Public transport attendants : TRAIN

10-across – Royal college’s head leaving for US university : PRINCETON

11-across – Eg arm borne by soldiers, those taking a back seat? : PRIVATE

12-across – See 11 : MEMBERS

13-across – Benefits from changing motel’s menu? : EMOLUMENTS

15-across – Wife boarding vessel to find man on board : PAWN

18-across – Discarded spades held here? : SHED

19-across – Small and large states backing chosen type of power : ELECTRICAL

22-across – Here you can make your mark cutting post : POLLING

24-across – See 22 : STATION

25-across – Dungeon built to keep unclothed criminal : OUBLIETTE

26-across – Stupendous fish : BRILL

27-across – Constituency in the Borders? : MARGINALSEAT

1-down – A few overcome by river current, like a bore? : WEARISOME

2-down – Row involving an elevated US taxonomist : LINNAEUS

3-down – Fruit with marked skin peeled : APPLE

4-down – Could this disheartened fan create magnificent cryptic? : ENIGMATIC

5-down – Future volume slashed by firm : TOCOME

6-down – Appeal lifted one particular sort of levy : TITHE

7-down – Plain stage exercises : STEPPE

8-down – Agreement primarily sought within marriage : UNISON

14-down – We learn the lesson, ultimately keeping land free from prejudice : ENLIGHTEN

16-down – Curator from Bow to call on one moving north : ARCHIVIST

17-down – A rebel MP’s stirring opening words : PREAMBLE

18-down – Drink dispenser on ship at sea : SIPHON

20-down – Desolate portrait painter holds on : LONELY

21-down – Arranging fruit, receiving nothing in return : FIXING

23-down – Star billing featuring this group in the ascendant : LIBRA

24-down – Surreptitiously move bag : STEAL

1-across – After a liaison’s end, woman’s heartache : ANGINA

4-across – Person stealing beer wants second drink : PILLAGER

9-across – Split from sexually open-minded faction : BISECT

10-across – Feature of some wines, eight swallowed in bar : SCREWTOP

11-across – Tot learning it, one getting potty? : TOILETTRAINING

13-across – Great structure broadcaster’s right to include in romp : SKYSCRAPER

14-across – Mogul’s capital of precious metal with Russia’s banks : AGRA

16-across – Assist with half of letters? : ABET

18-across – One like Napoleon artist gets to pose : STRATEGIST

21-across – Danger’s kept for one key war yarn : THEGREATESCAPE

23-across – Sue’s books, one with a scandalous ending : LITIGATE

24-across – Like film-maker’s second try to knock out western : TAKETO

25-across – Why outspoken opportunist’s put before court : CHANCERY

26-across – Way a family member shows inactivity : STASIS

1-down – Group’s chiastic rhyme scheme : ABBA

2-down – Rabbit seen twice somewhere in France : GASCONY

3-down – Drink to fortify for embellish­ment : NECKLACE

5-down – Mostly tinned pulp caterer put away : INCARCERATE

6-down – False information by great German chemist : LIEBIG

7-down – Motioning to leave EU? This is very revealing : GSTRING

8-down – Awful ruling blocked by leading revolutionary : REPUGNANT

12-down – MC Hammer set to star without old lady : TOASTMASTER

13-down – Poseur swots up about literary work : SMARTALEC

15-down – Liking what a songwriter may do : PENCHANT

17-down – 20 lady’s plump for a queen giving a twirl : ELECTRA

19-down – Wow! Current ruler drops ecstasy : IMPRESS

20-down – Mail penned by jerk is depressing : TRAGIC

22-down – M&S clothing very large for fashion star : MOSS