£250 prize to the first correct solution opened on 2nd January 2026.
Running clockwise round the shaded squares from the top LH corner is part of a 2025 Poetry Corner tribute. The poem's subject and their occupation are the answers to 36/37 and 44 across.
The unchecked letters of the quote are listed below, except for the four that are revealed in the grid.
A A A C C D D D D E E H H H I I I I I K M N N O O O O O O O P R R R R S S S S S T T T U U W Y Y
Across
1 Hairy miser involved with row about nothing (9)
6 Establishment pledges to replace love with ecstasy (8)
11 BoJo's, um ... about to drop round for "Big things" (6)
15 Like a pitch made by Conservative whip in uniform (11)
16 A Fabian arsehole rubbished Mayfair? (11,4)
17 Cover for nut out cavorting on piss (6)
18 In which civil servants work to insert line in an area near the genitals (6,6)
20 A part of Clinton (stag!)
enjoyed giving a performance (2,5)
22 Text (not Trump's first)
: HAND OVER ZELENSKY'S BUTT (9)
24 Decline to visit the Dobermans? (2,2,3,4)
26 Playful, perverted life, Epstein, finally (5)
27 Right to ditch Latin base (5)
28 Perseverance of Sun once seat is lost (13)
32 Bloody American? (7)
34 Row about government leader's cat (5)
36/37 [see preamble] That is covered by Private Eye lark? (6,4)
39 Scruffy figure surprisingly cares about rank (9)
42 Former Starmer residence – "No bearing on where your taxes go" (9)
43/21dn. Extended tip for candidates to be whittled down (4,4)
44 [see preamble] "In Trump I reside" (6)
45 Guide – mine's protecting left ball (5)
47 It helps with DIY boob (look around inside) (7)
49 Sperm's going so sloppy, so blathers (6-7)
52 Range of Coulson broadcast? (5)
54 No way to get inside – awful (5)
56 Search for something to watch – guide on small fur balls? (7-4)
59 Republic is inane, changing to accommodate party (9)
60 So you'll have to rest your plate on your lap? Extraordinary! (7)
62 Kyiv hardline nuts booze (5,7)
63 One pathetic cut on a large material (6)
66 Reform main party? Unreal, against Westminster norms! (15)
68 Say 'M' is very dismissive of victory, real sad type (5,6)
69 Did some dogging? Sounds quite virtuous! (6)
70 Has a spell behind bars – rabbits on about "item" (4,4)
71 Celeb for each child? Decline (9)
2 Due to UFO con act? No, stupid! (2,7,2)
3 Fashion again produces some fresh aperitif (7)
4 Herb grabs Virginia – and Lily? (6)
5 Absurdly, truly mad to host ball as an ethical obligation (5,4)
7 Approval of Riot Act if in a muddle (12)
8 Nasty singular match, barrier to getting financial aid? (5,4)
9 Somewhat hasty litigious writers (5)
10 Balls up by north-eastern Republicans – a beauty! (7)
11 Small flag attached to chemists, a symbol of fascism? (9)
12 Wear them in winter when love-struck, head to toe (7)
13 Maybe old man's for health reforms (5,4)
14 Cricketer's crusty member (5,3)
19 Subject to chucking ball at hunks endlessly (5)
21 See 43ac.
23 Pad out and measure regal bust (7)
25 Neurotic, unstable bosses Cyclops has (9)
26 Balls squeezing middle of penis, so expire? (3)
29 Location of AA curing a drunk (9)
30 Conservative Fanny's frigidity? (5)
31 Crap second blockbuster (4)
32 Sombre end of Streeting's party (5)
33 Time to feel sick about president, right? (5)
35 Lot of money and coke problem – reptile! (5)
36 Reform but ... overcome by party mistrust (5)
38 Protest against Nigel's top villain (5)
40 Account for being no longer modest (7)
41 Not for one getting sex when retired (4)
46 Enemy summits disrupted – threatened by HIV (6,6)
48 Vital landing-place reported (3)
50 Peninsula's evil, potential technological threat? (5)
51 Maybe the right is getting backing of French (4)
53 Wallowing in digs, quite vexing (11)
55 Chests out, piss imbibed? That's a feature of party conference! (3,6)
56 Was at the same time a school without flexible exits (2-7)
57 Fancy a drop of whisky? Eagerly! (4,1,4)
58 Four Dave broadcasts chosen (8)
59 Embarrassed, getting off with a tormenter (3,2,4)
61 Unkind remarks about ex-monarch – they're often cutting (7)
62 Almost curse: "Old and not in good condition!" (7)
64 Nigh impossible to penetrate Tory's knot of hair (7)
65 Grand arse is not subject to a charge (6)
67 Coming back shortly with energy loophole (5)
There is no Across Lite version of this crossword available.
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