Independent 6495 by Phi

Tough: Solving time: 34 mins

* = anag < = reversed

ACROSS

1 DE (BRIe) EF   Feed<

5 POL(IT)ICe

9 FR (l)ITTERED Excellent

10 Oliver TWIST Ditto

12 BOS (TO)NIAN

25 LEV (IATH) AN (a hit)* navel <     The philosopher is Hobbes.

26 CO CO NUT

27 RE-ELECT E (Spain) for F (France)  in reflect

DOWN

2 Benjamin B (R) ITTEN

6 LOT TO

7 T (BIL IS) I it< lib<     in Georgia

8 C (OTEN) ANT note* Saw this before, but don’t mind seeing it again.

13 SCREENSAVER Excellent cryptic defn.

19 BANS HEE(d)

20 GANNET Ten nag(s) <

25 LE(f)T ref tennis