Cryptic crossword - The Scotsman 02/08/2012

ACROSS

1 Understood PM had awkward chore completed (12)

8 Gets rid of prince, replaced by a French writer (5)

9 Straightaway, I have to take instruction (9)

11 Swaps occupations using different skills (6)

12 Left small division in action (8)

14 May have to redesignate legal base (10)

15 If frightened, little boy went away in trauma (4)

18 Does anyone care to select leaders? (4)

19 He gets round to name one ancient monument (10)

21 Expected to find that a new model had finished (8)

23 Put in order; that’s after charge (6)

25 It’s child play moving, without a care in the world (9)

26 Rely on credit with some confidence (5)

27 Gentleman taking on worker is involved in some difficulty (12)

DOWN

1 Happen to get a role on stage, but break up (4,5)

2 Lets Army organisation be top-flight (8)

3 Has to head off unrefined rough savage (4)

4 Hesitate about having to confer with one at gathering (10)

5 Caught in close with a store-card (6)

6 Turn out in the victory parade (5)

7 Leader is expected, initially, to introduce bias into reports (12)

10 Support soldiers having time for second sanctions (12)

13 After circulating, drive off in good order (10)

16 Build up against 26 across, with copyright involved (9)

17 Close off accelerator in order to stop (8)

20 Mysterious person playing in game (6)

22 Heavyweight had to adopt young son to name him (5)

24 Check out about-turn before half-way line (4)

Wednesday’s solution

Across: 1 With bated breath, 9 Litigious, 10 Satyr, 11 Tinny, 12 Groundsel, 13 Macau, 15 Sheffield, 17 Decidedly, 19 Legal, 21 Outgrowth, 23 Circa, 24 Imago, 25 Twitching, 26 Military two-step.

Down: 1 Well-timed, 2 Titanic, 3 Buggy, 4 Thong, 5 Discovery, 6 Resentful, 7 Artiste, 8 Horal, 14 Underfoot, 15 Soda water, 16 Dollar gap, 18 Catcall, 20 Geraint, 21 Opium, 22 Heist, 23 Cacao

• If the grid appears smaller than usual, then click on the grid to expand it to its proper size