Cryptic crossword - The Scotsman 27/12/2011

Across

1 It may not be grand, but in two directions it’s virtuous (7)

5 South African hero to whom dirt sticks? (5)

11 Judge where heads of state will meet to make an attempt on Everest, perhaps (3,3,3,6)

12 Last laggard at the back is a nutter (4)

13 Papers etc bring help back to me (5)

14 Favoured girl to take law degree (4)

17 Shapes signs of decay (6)

18 Golden pheasants, say, seen around marsh (7)

20 Name bod injured in front of trunk (7)

22 Ride fast in befuddled trance (6)

24 See firm go bananas ... (4)

25 ... and mad? Not round the bend, just foolish (5)

26 Commonly he’s a person with leadership qualities, this fellow (4)

29 Sentence for pens demolished is utter rubbish (7,8)

30 He’s at pains to find plate (5)

31 Carry on being fresh when around sister (7)

Down

2 Dismiss music that’s no longer needed to get revenge (3,3,3,6)

3 One to deceive with symbol (4)

4 Enmities are hardest to dissolve (7)

6 Rodent stops hissing, making pouting expression (4)

7 Wristwatches, perhaps, leave one with nothing to do (4,2,4,5)

8 Do a project on saint you heard was extremely dodgy (5)

9 Part of country house enjoying the morning sun used for some domestic art (6)

10 Sinister pursuer is seen at first to be one ready to make conversation (7)

15 Slump in orders for fruit (5)

16 Sort of acid bathed in steam in order to isolate (5)

19 Strikes in part of building works (7)

21 Name notes played in pieces for a certain number of voices (6)

22 Suggest prisoner gets message (7)

23 Moles create confusion inside crack body (5)

27 You and I are briefly as we used to be (4)

28 Snakes bit head off insects (4)

Monday’s solution:

Across: 7 Moved, 8 Broadcast, 10 Adroit, 11 Absorbed, 12 Amenable, 13 Gush, 15 Reverse, 17 Isolate, 20 Hide, 22 Conspire, 25 Election, 26 Stitch, 27 Gentleman, 28 Fever.

Down: 1 Condemned, 2 Denounce, 3 Created, 4 Passages, 5 Scores, 6 Aster, 9 Stab, 14 Attracted, 16 Specimen, 18 Lopsided, 19 Scandal, 21 Incite, 23 Nest, 24 Fleet.