Independent Cryptic #11289

2022-12-17

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Across

1a

Front of building roughly covered with flag (6)

5a

Independent politician roots out fraud (8)

9a

Actual victim blocks statement contesting allegations (8)

10a

Unqualified medic is poor performer in hospital (6)

11a

Salt symbolically received by Bill before church (10)

12a

Couple close to significant victory (4)

13a

Present judge to the audience (4)

15a

"Gutsy" woman appearing in silent broadcast (10)

17a

Gift leaving party with extra around the country (10)

20a

Doctor limits when to breathe abruptly (4)

22a

Wrestling with something that adds nothing (4)

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23a

Recreational drug connected with friend in a miserable way (10)

25a

Prompt action ultimately inspired by one quote (6)

26a

Satire spoke perhaps about sick hospital drama (8)

27a

Secret society mostly involved in depraved deeds (8)

28a

Social media platform deleting women's response to joke? (6)

Down

2d

State for example upset about article in Standard? (7)

3d

Divert sources of aid, money and employment (5)

4d

Strained relations with former partner over telephone (9)

5d

Wrong sequence of characters in Cyrillic I transcribed (7)

6d

Soundly beat American in cycling stage (5)

7d

Astounding cast supplied with sharp content (9)

8d

New harmonica dispensing with rudiments of historic musical instrument (7)

14d

Upward trend supplied by speech about current leader (9)

16d

Piece of asparagus with perfect flavour (9)

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18d

Old girls in male sauna stripped off (7)

19d

Snubbed Italian man after disowning son and daughter (7)

21d

Huge spending increase receives record backing (7)

23d

Addict's condition brought about death (5)

24d

Ration voting having ousted leader (5)