Phi was not on his usual day, so I realised that something special was happening.
Definitions underlined, in maroon. Anagram indicators in italics.
Well something special was meant to be happening today, but events have conspired to delay things and now today, March 29th, is just another day in the long-running saga of Brexit. ‘Just another day?’, you ask. OK perhaps something major is happening today, but something major has happened every day within living memory. In any case, Morph has done very well here, producing a very good crossword with no particular strain yet with convincing surfaces connected with the matter of the day.
| Across | ||
| 1 | DIVISION LOBBY | Campaign for separation perhaps voting with feet here? (8,5) |
| A sort of double CD, referring both to the divisions among the people over Brexit and to MPs voting | ||
| 8 | POLE DANCE | May’s display of contortions that can be revealing? (4,5) |
| 2 defs — one of them referring to dancing round the maypole, with perhaps a reference to Theresa May’s performance at the Party Conference | ||
| 9 | ROUE | One seeking personal gratification destabilised Euro (4) |
| *(Euro) | ||
| 10 | LIVE UP TO | Justify reversing harm with about-turn? Please flip! (4,2,2) |
| (evil)rev. U [-turn] PTO [please turn over] | ||
| 11 | OPINE | Believe in no deal? (5) |
| 0 pine — the woody type of deal, which includes pine | ||
| 12 | FINN | The end for French national and EU statesman (4) |
| fin [= end, in French] N — statesman in the sense of a man who is a member of a state | ||
| 13 | ALLITERATE | After article 50, learned to say bollocks to Brexit? (10) |
| a L literate — to say ‘bollocks to Brexit’ is alliterative | ||
| 16 | HYPOTENUSE | Side opposed to quarter turn on the EU spy crumbling (10) |
| (on the EU spy)* — the hypotenuse of a right-angled triangle is the side opposite the right angle [quarter turn] | ||
| 19 | PLUS | Advantage of Luxembourg getting involved in matter (4) |
| p(L)us | ||
| 20 | TEETH | Probing vote, ethics watchdog needs these (5) |
| Hidden in voTE ETHics | ||
| 22 | DEMARCHE | Diplomatic initiative from Spain this month dividing leaders of Denmark and Estonia (8) |
| D{enmark} (E March) E{stonia} | ||
| 23 | POTS | Preserves backstop? (4) |
| (stop)rev., so backstop is really back stop | ||
| 24 | DERRING-DO | Strange to back including cocking up as ‘bold action’ (7-2) |
| d(erring)do, the ddo being (odd)rev. | ||
| 25 | LEAVE TO REMAIN | Immigration status changing opinion of former Brexit supporter? (5,2,6) |
| If you change the opinion of a former Brexit supporter you change their opinion from ‘Leave’ to ‘Remain’ | ||
| Down | ||
| 1 | DUPLICITY | Double-dealing party allowed to get final instalment of money (9) |
| DUP licit {mone}y | ||
| 2 | VILLEIN | Scoundrel having England take position of a vassal (7) |
| The scoundrel is a villain and you replace the a by E | ||
| 3 | SIDE PLATE | Rotten deal, ultimately the pits, for bread-and-butter support (4,5) |
| *(deal {th}e pits) | ||
| 4 | OWN GOAL | Admit ambition’s a mistake (3,4) |
| own [admit] goal [ambition] | ||
| 5 | LIE TO | Misinform – ship’s to show no sign of movement (3,2) |
| 2 defs — if a ship lies to it is tied up against the side of the harbour or whatever so that it can’t move | ||
| 6 | BARNIER | Eurocrat to rule out hesitation about Northern Ireland (7) |
| bar (NI) er — this man | ||
| 7 | YOURE | One seeking solution is Tory abandoning leader in a mess with EU (5) |
| ({T}ory EU)* — |
||
| 14 | THE EMPIRE | Where did Britain’s wealth come from? Theme ripe for deconstructing (3,6) |
| (Theme ripe)* | ||
| 15 | TOUCH DOWN | Land feeling depressed (5,4) |
| touch [feeling] down | ||
| 17 | OPEN SEA | Main operation’s getting partners to enter single market body (4,3) |
| op E(NS)EA — the partners are the partners at bridge, North and South, and the single market body is the European Economic Area | ||
| 18 | UNDERGO | Suffer reverse after intervention by pro-Brexit group (7) |
| und(ERG)o — European Research Group | ||
| 19 | PIRAGUA | Upcoming month followed by a split in which one could be up the creek with no paddle? (7) |
| (Aug a rip)rev. — if you are in a piragua, a canoe, you could be up the creek … | ||
| 20 | TROLL | Tax on movement involving cargo’s central point for online commenter (5) |
| t({ca}r{go})oll | ||
| 21 | HEDGE | Protect oneself from loss from hard border (5) |
| h edge | ||
*anagram
I wonder if Morph had any specific creek in mind in 19d?
This was great fun and a very well constructed puzzle on what should have been an appropriate theme for today, but our “leaders” have managed to upset crosswordland’s best laid plans.
It’s probably just me, but I would prefer for the enumeration for 7d to be left blank if there is some objection to using the accurate (3’2) rather than use something which is both wrong and misleading however obvious the answer is.
Lots of great clues here from which to pick a favourite and my choice is the short and sweet 23a.
Many thanks to Morph for the excellent entertainment and to John.
Thanks for the blog, John, and bravissimo, Morph, for producing a brilliant puzzle, still appropriate for the wretched ongoing shambles.
I couldn’t possibly pick out favourites – the whole is greater than the sum of its parts – but I would urge a revisiting of the clues to savour the wit and cleverness of the surfaces. I’m still doing it!
John, I don’t think there’s a problem with 7dn if you add ‘is’ to the definition: one seeking solution is = YOU’RE.
Huge thanks, Morph – this is one to remember [like your expenses scandal puzzle 😉 ].
Yes you’re quite right Eileen [or should I say one seeking solution is quite right?]. Blog amended.
magnificent stuff. Thanks Morph & John
What baerchen said.
What allan_c said
Blimey, I go to the Indy cryptic to get away from the Brexit omnishambles. Please give it a rest.
Indeed a brilliant crossword. Very clever to incorporate the theme in all the clues without a hint of clunkiness or contrivance.
Still, I’m inclined to agree with Geoff above that I could have done without a reminder of this potentially disastrous phase of British history!
Brilliant!
A tour de force, its appearance (un?)fortunately spoilt by the maybot.
Will there come a second chance for Morph? 🙂
Many thanks, John, for the blog.
A few things I had to look up in the shape of the diplomatic initiative, the specific nautical term in 5d and the boat in 19d.
Favourite was probably 15d.
Thanks to Morph and to John for the blog. Champagne back in the ‘fridge’ for another day………
Many thanks for the laughs Mick and John for the bloggage
Thanks Morph for the entertainment and John for the blog.
Great stuff
Brilliant! I did this yesterday, after Kitty advertised it on Twitter.
I thought the date was plenty appropriate, perhaps now in a cheekier way.
Lots of fun, and very very clever
Many thanks Morph and John