This crossword No. 26253 clues and answers were published on Wed 07 May 2014 and the puzzle can be visited by following The Guardian Cryptic Crossword No. 26253 link.
All Across Clues and Answers:
9-across – Distress at leaving embassy man following judge : HEARTACHE
10-across – Worthless politician, boring yet ludicrous : EMPTY
11-across – English writer hits cart track backing motor : TURBINE
12-across – First lady protects clan, roaming isolated part of country : ENCLAVE
13-across – Work of potter, dextrous, about 50 : DELFT
14-across – Messenger’s chief innovation in American contact sport : ARCHANGEL
16-across – No party? 4, 8 or 24 would do : ANYPORTINASTORM
19-across – In trouble over time, student essentially shows guts : FORTITUDE
21-across – Division ends without Liberal backing : SPLIT
22-across – Old Tory leader gains weight : WINSTON
23-across – French wine producers don’t like a copper coming round : CHATEAU
24-across – Group of settlers cutting last section of canal : COLON
25-across – Small banker getting bad service on jet : STREAMLET
All Down Clues and Answers:
1-down – Star’s very small part, theatre’s last panto role : WHITEDWARF
2-down – Clement Attlee’s initial cuts pursue justice : FAIRPLAY
3-down – Authoritarian detective’s leaving the area : STRICT
4-down – Imperial measure about to go up and down : ACRE
5-down – Two versions of scene confused in old age : SENESCENCE
6-down – Old soldiers entertaining staff at camp : REDCOATS
7-down – Second collision happened unexpectedly : SPRANG
8-down – Car component subject to inflation : TYRE
14-down – Craft making false turns at sea : ARTFULNESS
15-down – Volume turned up recently in middle of bulletin, it should be said : LEMOTJUSTE
17-down – Old hand stripped dingy bar : OMITTING
18-down – Source of crude artworks skilfully concealed : OILWELLS
20-down – Offensive Little Englander starts to cause irritation : RANKLE
21-down – Prisoner supports opening of tunnel in it : STALAG
22-down – Part of oil lamp with twinkling top removed : WICK
23-down – Archetypal Aussie briefly over limit : CURB
This crossword has in total 29 where 13 are across and 16 are down.