This month’s topically themed puzzle. Find it to solve online or download at ft.com/crossword
I always enjoy a Neo puzzle and this was packed with his customary sharp, witty wordplay. Great fun, even if some of the subject matter is a tad depressing – but that’s hardly the setter’s fault.
Thanks, Neo!
Definitions are underlined in the clues below.
| ACROSS | ||
| 8 | UNIVERSAL |
Global peacekeepers against entering volatile Israel (9)
|
| UN (peacekeepers) + V (against) entering an anagram (volatile) of ISRAEL
The UN has recently made statements about Israel’s conduct in its war on Gaza but has stopped short of intervening |
||
| 9 | GILL |
Good and bad Voloshyn’s favourite MEP? (4)
|
| G (good) + ILL (bad)
Nathan Gill, former leader of Reform in Wales, was imprisoned this month for taking Russian bribes via Ukrainian politician/spy Oleh Volosyhn |
||
| 10 | STILETTO |
This twirls regularly in fight (8)
|
| Alternate letters (regularly) of TwIrLs inserted in SET TO (fight) | ||
| 11 | BUDGET |
Move initially tight plan 24’s delivered (6)
|
| BUDGE (move) + first letter (initially) of Tight
Chancellor Rachel Reeves made her autumn budget statement in Parliament this week |
||
| 12 | UZI |
Ushakov and Zelenskyy in for leaders’ SMG (3)
|
| First letters (leaders) of Ushakov, Zelenskyy In
Yuri Ushakov is the Russian diplomat who was recorded influencing US special envoy Steve Witkoff to favour Russia in Ukraine peace plans |
||
| 13 | EPSTEIN |
Records one in ten in these revelatory files? (7)
|
| EPS (records) + I (one) in TEN
The US House of Representatives and Senate recently voted to release the Epstein files |
||
| 15 | SPEECH |
Go into school for something Panorama edited? (6)
|
| PEE (go) inserted in SCH (school)
Panorama edited a speech made by Donald Trump ahead of the January 6th riots |
||
| 17 | PRESIDE |
Progressive at first, stay moderate (7)
|
| First letter of Progressive + RESIDE (stay) | ||
| 19 | SIBERIA |
River again ebbs in chilly Russian zone (7)
|
| AIRE (river in Yorkshire) + BIS (again) reversed (ebbs) | ||
| 22 | ANDREW |
‘Royal stripped of titles’ article pulled (6)
|
| AN (indefinite article) + DREW (pulled)
The former Prince Andrew is now known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor after the King stripped him of his titles |
||
| 23 | PREMIER |
Do successors come in for each Prime Minister? (7)
|
| RE + MI (successors to Do) inserted in PER (for each) | ||
| 25 | MAY |
An ousted Tory leader // has permission (3)
|
| Two definitions – the first being Theresa May | ||
| 26 | FARAGE |
Allegedly racist schoolboy in twisted fag era (6)
|
| Anagram (twisted) of FAG ERE
The Guardian has recently been publishing reminiscences from former schoolmates of of the Reform leader about his behaviour |
||
| 27 | STATUTES |
Reform sets taut laws (8)
|
| Anagram (reform) of SETS TAUT | ||
| 29 | SODA |
Offensive type American with Trump’s fizzy pop? (4)
|
| SOD (offensive type) + A (American)
Trump’s because soda is an Americanism |
||
| 30 | THIRD-RATE |
Trader hit badly: how’s Starmer’s performance? (5-4)
|
| Anagram (badly) of TRADER HIT
Not Neo’s opinion but that of veteran broadcaster Andrew Neil |
||
| DOWN | ||
| 1 | AUNTIE |
Maybe biased broadcaster initially advertised free (6)
|
| First letter (initially) of Advertised + UNTIE (free)
The BBC – affectionately known as Auntie – has been accused of institutional bias |
||
| 2 | DIALYSIS |
Regularly delaying a sibling’s treatment (8)
|
| DAILY (regularly) with the A ‘delayed’ + SIS (sibling) | ||
| 3 | BENT |
Opinion about Nathan, in the end crooked (4)
|
| BET (opinion) ‘about’ the last letter of nathaN
Another reference to convicted criminal Nathan Gill |
||
| 4 | ASTOUND |
Fighting in Sudan to amaze (7)
|
| Anagram (fighting) of SUDAN TO
Sudan has recently seen intense fighting and many deaths in its ongoing civil war as RSF paramilitary forces attempt to overthrow the government |
||
| 5 | PLEBISCITE |
COP essentially ignored, bet policies changed in referendum (10)
|
| Anagram (changed) of BET POLICIES less the middle letter (essentially ignored) of COP
COP 30 climate action talks happened in Brazil recently |
||
| 6 | KING LEAR |
Charles to sort out real royal drama (4,4)
|
| KING (Charles) + anagram (sort out) of REAL | ||
| 7 | CLUTCH BAG |
Group chat about handy container (6,3)
|
| CLUTCH (group) + GAB (chat) reversed (about) | ||
| 14 | ENDOWMENTS |
Close chaps, in twos, arranged mortgages? (10)
|
| END (close) + MEN (chaps) inserted in an anagram (arranged) of TWOS | ||
| 16 | SPEARFISH |
Swimmer Earps out to catch some rays? (9)
|
| Anagram (out) of EARPS + FISH (catch some rays)
Former England goalkeeper Mary Earps recently published her autobiography. There was a swimmer called Hannah Earp who competed for GB in the 2000 Olympics |
||
| 18 | EL DORADO |
Where wealth accumulates, abnormally loaded with hidden gold (2,6)
|
| Anagram (abnormally) of LOADED with OR (gold) inserted | ||
| 20 | EPIDURAL |
Labour’s backstabber? (8)
|
| Cryptic definition
An epidural is a spinal injection given for pain relief during childbirth, but the clue is perhaps intended to hint at Wes Streeting supposedly planning a bid to replace Keir Starmer as Labour leader – though it could also hint at other recent goings-on within the Labour party… |
||
| 21 | SPYSHIP |
Vessel in UK waters: SVR agent succeeded with it (7)
|
| SPY (SVR agent) + S (succeeded) + HIP (with it)
The RFN Stoikiy, a Russian spyship, has recently been seen in UK waters, with crew members firing lasers at RAF patrols |
||
| 24 | REEVES |
Chancellor to pause endlessly when First Lady enters (6)
|
| REST (pause) less the last letter (endlessly) containing EVE (the first lady)
Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves, who has been much in the news lately |
||
| 28 | AIDE |
McSweeney, say, thought the last to become leader (4)
|
| IDEA (thought) with the last letter becoming the leader
Morgan McSweeney is Keir Starmer’s Chief of Staff |