Independent Cryptic #12296

2026-03-06

Solve on Independent →

Across

6a

Accident sees pulpy material put in drink (7)

flowerflowerflower
8a

Steer around iodine and uranium for another element (6)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

[I (=iodine) + U (=uranium)] in HELM (=(to) steer, direct)

9a

Plain card containing new authorisation (9)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

CLEAR (=plain, straightforward) + [N (=new) in ACE (=card, in pack)]

10a

Liberal in regret meeting Republican leader (5)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

[L (=liberal) in RUE (=(to) regret)] + R (=Republican)

12a

Old King Henry: a row recalled in pub (7)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

[H (=Henry) + A + RAO (OAR= (to) row, i.e. a boat; “recalled” indicates reversal)] in PH (=pub, i.e. public house); a pharaoh was an “old king” of Egypt

13a

Way of approaching habitual responses about part of play (7)

flowerflowerflower
15a

A successful period after court malfunction (5)

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17a

Put on party before November (3)

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19a

Respite? Allowed out of bed (5)

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20a

Lectures one engaging in skilled activities (7)

flowerflowerflower
22a

Mostly wealthy with a good deal of passion for American economist (7)

flowerflowerflower
24a

Cold and unproductive but honest (5)

flowerflowerflower
26a

Idiot turned round hiding broken easel: “Like some tea?” (9)

flowerflowerflower
27a

Authority not the same for a follower (6)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

<do> MINION (=authority, rule; “not the same (=do, for ditto )” means letters “do” are dropped); a minion is a servile follower, a dependant

28a

Celebrity challenged to ignore one without food (7)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

STAR (=celebrity) + V <i> ED (=challenged, contended; “to ignore one (=I)” means letter “i” is dropped)

Down

1d

Villain overturned brasserie cracking open whisky with soldiers (10)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

EFAC (CAFE=brasserie, simple restaurant; “overturned” indicates reversal) in [MALT (=whisky) + OR (=soldiers, i.e. other ranks)]

2d

Guide son meeting that woman with father (6)

flowerflowerflower
3d

Menace from husband interrupting pleasant event (6)

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4d

Conservative line taken by Poor Clare about one of the ministry? (8)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

C (=Conservative) + L (=line) + [I (=one) in *(CLARE)]; “poor” is anagram indicator

5d

Unimaginative European leaving dispute with Luxembourg (4)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

DU <e> L (=dispute; “ European (=E) leaving” means letter “e” is dropped) + L (=Luxembourg)

6d

Flattering City chap and son may be misguided (11)

flowerflowerflower
7d

Stole power: moved slowly (7)

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11d

Doorstep treated with fur protected against some of the elements? (11)

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14d

Add page to one set of religious books and go after expression of uncertainty (10)

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16d

Very precise journalist against blocking constable (8)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

[ED (=journalist, i.e. editor) + ANTI (=against, not in favour of)] in PC (=constable, i.e. Police Constable)

18d

Good sense to accept run in Tesla say having some qualms? (7)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

[R (=run, on cricket scorecard) in EV (=Tesla, say, i.e. electric vehicle)] in NOUS (=good sense)

21d

Quiet source of support I proffered (6)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

S <upport> (“source of” means first letter only) + I + LENT (=proffered, advanced)

23d

Old Mediterranean leader with a lot of concern about rising ocean (6)

flowerflowerflower
25d

Be up for bad deeds? (4)

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