Independent 10,953 / Phi

H<er> (“initially” means first letter only) in TONG [G<irl> (“top” means first letter only) + NOT; “returned” indicates reversal)]

*(SOME RAT UP); “that’s screwed” is anagram indicator

PRO (=favouring) + T<h>E<m> (“odd bits of” means alternate letters only) + US; in Greek mythology, Proteus was a sea god, known for constantly changing his shape

P (=positive) + LEADER (=source of guidance)

Hidden (“covering”) in “reAD Article”; the reference is to e.g. English mathematician Ada Lovelace (1815-52), daughter of Lord Byron

DR (=medic, doctor) + <s>UNKEN (=depressed; “not initially” means first letter is dropped); as an adjective, dissipated means dissolute, especially addicted to drinking

[HARM (=damage) in CE (=church, i.e. Church of England)] + R (=rector)

R (=right) + [I (=one) in UDDER (=source of milk)]; a ruddy complexion is a sign of good health

SUN (=star, in our Solar System) + SET (=number of games, in e.g. tennis)

FAR (=very much, as adverb) + MER<ely> (=only; “to be reduced by 50%” means 3 of 6 letters are dropped)

RM (=marines, i.e. Royal Marines) in [A + BAND (=group of musicians);

S (=special) + MO (=doctor, i.e. Medical Officer) + KING (=monarch)

SE<a>L (=marine creature; “disposing of a” means letter “a” is dropped) in MUSS (=disturbance, in N Am slang)

Cryptic definition: nuns are members of religious orders; “whichever way you look at it” indicates a palindrome

BUFF (=expert) + A + L (=large, of sizes) + O (=old)

EX (=former lover) + CITED (=mentioned in documents)

[L (=line) in *(I SENT)] + EES (SEE=observe; “in retreat” indicates reversal)

<p>LUCKY (=daring); “to give up power (=P)” means letter “p” is dropped

PI (=very good, pious) in TED (=online talks); short TED talks on different topics are posted daily online

<portic>O (“end to” means last letter only) + ROT UND (=red and German, i.e. the German words for “red” and “and”)

G (=good) + REEK (=stink, pong) + FIRE (=enthusiasm, drive); Greek fire was a substance that caught fire when wetted, used in war against enemy ships

SAND (=quartz grains) in MIRY (=boggy)

UN (=a French, i.e. a French word for a) + PACK (=team, i.e. animals herded or tied together)

MEN (=chaps) in AE (A&E, i.e. letter “a” followed by letter “e”); “turning up” indicates vertical reversal

DAME (=woman) in RAS (=African prince); Radames is an Egyptian warrior in Verdi’s Aida

PER<f>ORATED (=holed, punched); lacking fluorine (=F)” means letter “f” is dropped; to perorate is to come to the end of a speech, to conclude

REF (=official, i.e. referee) + USABLE (=worth employing)

*(CALUMNI<o>US); “nothing (=O) less” means letter “o” is dropped from anagram, indicated by “that could be”

CAL (=US state, i.e. California) + [N (=new) in MESS (=confusion)]

[OM (=expression of meditation, in Hindu devotion) in *(FOUR)] + L (=left); “upset” is anagram indicator

SEPT 1 (=start of month) in AC (=account)

[N (=navy, as in RN) in GO (=game)] in IRE (=anger)

MAM (=mother) in IS

Vertically reversed (“to be lifted”) and hidden (“some of”) in “daY’S DUSt”