Across
Punishment — motive sought? (4,3)
Time in government reduced for good measure in small county (7)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
T (Time) in RUL-e=”government reduced” + AND=’in addition’=”for good measure”
Wet academic having removed cap (5)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
b-RAINY=”academic” minus the first letter/”cap”
See 26
See 23
Answer I see Church retracted (4)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
OH=”I see” + CE (Church of England), all reversed/”retracted”
Talk after company and party, going their different ways, team up (11)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
ORATE=”Talk”, after CO (company) plus BALL=”party” reversed or going the other way
Where caps are when begging? (2,4,5)
Load boat (4)
A strong tea felt wrong after cold milky drink (5,5)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
A + F (forte, “strong”) + anagram/”wrong” of (tea felt)*; all after C (cold)
Collapsed, due to failing after adverse criticism (6,3)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
anagram/”failing” of (due to)*, after FLAK=”adverse criticism”
10a
Criminally stupid? Very close (5,2,7)
Outspoken shark hunter (7)
Dish in sink blocking channel (7)
Down
Possible tool used by belligerent European city? (6)
For example, lady is filling box having discarded wrapping (6)
Circular snares trap bird (10)
Cook in oven after second in fridge (5)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
OAST is an “oven” used for drying hops, after second letter of f-R-idge
Authorised measure preceding bitter explanation (9)
Excursion set in motion (4)
Champion almost entirely consuming a drink (8)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
ADVOCAT-e=”Champion almost entirely”, around A
See record again (8)
Criminals slow to break into American offices abroad (10)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
CONS=convicts=”Criminals” + LATE=”slow” inside US=”American”
17d
Look at a film with a theme that's controversial — as, say, a 23 11? (4,1,4,2,1,5)
Awful short white skirts provided, one under coat of raver (8)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
HOC-k=”short white”, around/”skirts” all of: IF=”provided” + I=”one” after R-ave-R ‘hock’ is a term for German white wine
See 15
24d
See-through underwear in series beginning to split, check trousers (6,4)
Taunt Dickens over love that's vacuous (6)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
HECK=”Dickens” as in ‘what the heck?’/’what the Dickens?’, plus L-ov-E
11a
Calamitous drawing in picture (5,10)
See 19
Type letters or click words in the clue