Across
Identify with friend wanting daughter (7)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
COMPADRE (friend) without (wanting) D (daughter) Not exactly sure how the definition works here, unless maybe it’s ‘identify with’?
A chap holding mug and tumbler (7)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
A CAT (chap) around (holding) ROB (mug) Wordplay on the trickier side, but the definition was easy to see. Shouldn’t the clue have a question mark?
Defence and intelligence occupying two hospitals right now (9)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
FORT (defence) + (and) WIT (intelligence) in (occupying) H H (two hospitals) FORTHWITH? THEREUNTO? Do I smell a theme?
A lot of seedy old fruit (5)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
almost all letters in (a lot of) MANGY (seedy) + O (old)
Leaders from all sides in seven cities frantically needing capital, perhaps? (4-9)
Nearly everything presented by each politician is random (8)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
ALL (everything) without the last letter (nearly) + (presented by) A (each) TORY (politician)
Onset of publicity prior to opening (6)
Rev about to appreciate something valuable (6)
Group of animals and horse featuring in my research material (8)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
H (horse) in (featuring in) COR (my) + DATA (research material) I’ve seen this word before, fairly recently.
Car firm opens plant — it has ups and downs! (6,7)
Place for putting last bits of rather sensitive inside information (5)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
last letters (bits) of RATHER SENSITIVE in (inside) GEN (information)
Black cuckoo breeding is invigorating (9)
Work outside home with fine metal sheeting (7)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
TOIL (work) around (outside) IN (home) + (with) F (fine)
Land drifting into sea (7)
Down
Venue with food around the centre of Stafford (4)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
CA (around) the middle letters (centre) of STAFFORD
It's a wonder I'm up, right, and about to tuck into drink (7)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
reversal (up) of I’M + R (right) + (and) C (about) in (to tuck into) ALE (drink)
Tennis player's trophy for winning a series of matches (5)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
ASHE’S (tennis player’s)
Agent initially expected to omit a line (8)
How associate starts generating capital (6)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
A THEN S Despite knowing what the clue was getting at, I still had trouble here.
Rest putting article in prompt (9)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
putting A (article) in REMINDER (prompt)
Top of big tree enveloped by single blaze (7)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
first letter (top) of BIG + FIR (tree) in (enveloped by) ONE (single)
Piece of meat in one basket put out next to back of supermarket (1-4,5)
Vehicle maker in decline — that's true, according to reports (10)
In addition, energy is included in the cost (9)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
E (energy) in (is included in) THE + RUN TO (cost) As in, ‘how much does the bill run to?’.
Dietary component in the main cut out (8)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
IN THE MAIN without the last letter (cut), anagrammed (out)
Vessel created with brass over long period (7)
Attorney initially raring to go wild and make an accusation (7)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
first letter of (initially) ATTORNEY + RARING anagrammed (to go wild)
Small stroke producing messy handwriting (6)
Mustang possibly heading north through dry region (5)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
CAR (Mustang possibly) reversed (heading north) in (through) TT (dry)
Area with grand river and a mausoleum site (4)
Type letters or click words in the clue