The annual St John PB Christmas crossword – politicalbetting.com

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edited January 2024 in General
imageThe annual St John PB Christmas crossword – politicalbetting.com

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  • DecrepiterJohnL
    DecrepiterJohnL Posts: 31,769
    Merry Christmas. God bless us, every one!
  • DecrepiterJohnL
    DecrepiterJohnL Posts: 31,769
    Clues via the www interface.
    https://www2.politicalbetting.com/index.php/archives/2023/12/25/the-annual-st-john-pb-christmas-crossword/
  • DecrepiterJohnL
    DecrepiterJohnL Posts: 31,769
    Across
    1 Labour MP declared bonuses (8)
    5 Politician on god’s side? (6)
    9 Opening up most of UK city – no way! (8)
    10 Country with a European President (6)
    12 Muse over a Tory stuffing! (5)
    13 PM to strongly admire, not starting in political office (9)
    14 Blair has expressed Churchill’s Cold War diplomacy ably (6,6)
    18 Notes written in blue by a musical Tory (6,6)
    21 Journalist by trade originally covers item honouring US President (5,4)
    23 Sound place to eat in Washington (5)
    24 Tory after losing leadership pursues the French Premier for instance (6)
    25 Vice President working for President Ford (8)
    26 Globe travelling captures the essence of Air Force One (6)
    27 European President’s calm taking on the Spanish broadcaster (8)
    Down
    1 What Cameron partly called Boris’ Napoleon issue? (6)
    2 Berlin is a leader of industry – that’s understood (6)
    3 Attraction Johnson never tires of – a looker! (6,3)
    4 PM in office in months before capturing Amin (4,8)
    6 Delighted to be broadcasting (2,3)
    7 Soviet letter from Zinoviev stops Asquith backing Chamberlain, when addressed informally (8)
    8 “Return of Pan’s People” – oddly left to a quick vote? (4,4)
    11 It’s virtually criminal attacking the state as we face Barry Gardiner’s last amendment (12)
    15 Most of the county supports leaderless party getting back again (9)
    16 Tory minister once left Labour and Liberal leaders in Number Ten (8)
    17 Unexpected drop in tax? (8)
    19 Return of One Direction is an aim of some Greeks (6)
    20 Revolutionary French soldier is a Republican (6)
    22 Immature Leader of the House once (5)
  • DecrepiterJohnL
    DecrepiterJohnL Posts: 31,769
    3 down. London Eye?
  • SeaShantyIrish2
    SeaShantyIrish2 Posts: 17,559
    Across 10 = Poland
  • DecrepiterJohnL
    DecrepiterJohnL Posts: 31,769
    edited December 2023
    6 down. On Air (on air = broadcasting; walking on air = delighted)

    ETA but that means 10 across can't be Poland. Hmm.

    Two clues solved in two hours (and not clear which two). Can't wait for the day shift to clock on.
  • SeaShantyIrish2
    SeaShantyIrish2 Posts: 17,559
    DecrepiterJohnL said:

    6 down. On Air (on air = broadcasting; walking on air = delighted)

    ETA but that means 10 across can't be Poland. Hmm.

    Two clues solved in two hours (and not clear which two). Can't wait for the day shift to clock on.

    Appears that our Xwortmeister has better things to do that monitor HIS puzzle! Such as sleeping?
  • DecrepiterJohnL
    DecrepiterJohnL Posts: 31,769
    SeaShantyIrish2 said:

    DecrepiterJohnL said:

    6 down. On Air (on air = broadcasting; walking on air = delighted)

    ETA but that means 10 across can't be Poland. Hmm.

    Two clues solved in two hours (and not clear which two). Can't wait for the day shift to clock on.

    Appears that our Xwortmeister has better things to do that monitor HIS puzzle! Such as sleeping?
    Or sliding down chimneys delivering presents.
  • DecrepiterJohnL
    DecrepiterJohnL Posts: 31,769
    8 down. Snap poll? Snap is Pan's backwards (return of in crossword-speak?) and poll means vote (sort of). There's still a lot of unused clue though.
  • BlancheLivermore
    BlancheLivermore Posts: 6,502
    DecrepiterJohnL said:

    8 down. Snap poll? Snap is Pan's backwards (return of in crossword-speak?) and poll means vote (sort of). There's still a lot of unused clue though.

    People oddly is the odd letters of people so pol

    Left is L
  • JosiasJessop
    JosiasJessop Posts: 46,251
    Merry Christmas everyone!
  • Casino_Royale
    Casino_Royale Posts: 63,687
    A very Merry Christmas everyone.
  • SandraMc
    SandraMc Posts: 763
    Merry Christmas everyone.

    22 down Immature leader of the house = Young? As in George Young?
  • BlancheLivermore
    BlancheLivermore Posts: 6,502
    SeaShantyIrish2 said:

    Across 10 = Poland

    WALESA
  • SandraMc
    SandraMc Posts: 763
    13 Across Mayorship? PM= May strongly admire not starting plus orship worship without w
  • DecrepiterJohnL
    DecrepiterJohnL Posts: 31,769
    SandraMc said:

    Merry Christmas everyone.

    22 down Immature leader of the house = Young? As in George Young?

    Young once is also a phrase.
  • DecrepiterJohnL
    DecrepiterJohnL Posts: 31,769
    Time for bed. Good luck and season's greetings.
  • Sandpit
    Sandpit Posts: 56,045
    Merry Christmas one and all!
  • SandraMc
    SandraMc Posts: 763
    11 down Cyberwarfare? Anagram of Barry plus R from last of Gardiner =attacking the state war plus we

    Off to have a cup of tea now.
  • BlancheLivermore
    BlancheLivermore Posts: 6,502
    SandraMc said:

    11 down Cyberwarfare? Anagram of Barry plus R from last of Gardiner =attacking the state war plus we

    Off to have a cup of tea now.

    Anagram of WE FACE BARRY R
  • JosiasJessop
    JosiasJessop Posts: 46,251
    Oh, and many thanks to StJohn for this. I am hopeless with crosswords (although all too often have cross words...), but enjoy seeing everyone else solve them.
  • Morris_Dancer
    Morris_Dancer Posts: 62,742
    Merry Christmas, everyone.
  • Peter_the_Punter
    Peter_the_Punter Posts: 14,779
    Seasons Greetings to one and all. It's been a pleasure sharing your company. Long may it continue.

    Special thanks to St John for his Xmas Xword. I'm hopeless at them but do enjoy watching others solve them. It's a great tradition.

    Catch you all Boxing Day.
  • stjohn
    stjohn Posts: 1,910
    Morning all!

    All the clues solved so far are correct - as are the explanations. The only one so far not explained is 3 down. LONDON EYE - LONDON (Samuel Johnson never tires of London in his famous quote) + EYE (a looker). Definition is Attraction.

    The London Eye is a tourist attraction. It's Dr Johnson here not Boris Johnson. But I think the surface reading works well for Boris.
  • IanB2
    IanB2 Posts: 52,314
    A crossword for early risers! Which tbf is very many people, on Xmas day. Merry Christmas wishes to all….
  • BlancheLivermore
    BlancheLivermore Posts: 6,502
    26A OBLIGE

    Anag of globe & i (essence of aIr)
  • BlancheLivermore
    BlancheLivermore Posts: 6,502
    16D PORTILLO

    Left = port
    And LL in IO
  • stjohn
    stjohn Posts: 1,910
    BlancheLivermore said:

    26A OBLIGE

    Anag of globe & i (essence of aIr)

    Yes. Force One (to do something) = OBLIGE
  • TimS
    TimS Posts: 15,712
    Good morning and merry Christmas all. I’m crap at crosswords so don’t expect any meaningful contribution from me.

    A chilly but clear morning here in Southern Burgundy. Children still asleep.
  • BlancheLivermore
    BlancheLivermore Posts: 6,502
    18A OLIVER DOWDEN

    Notes (DE) in blue (DOWN) by musical (OLIVER)
  • stjohn
    stjohn Posts: 1,910
    TimS said:

    Good morning and merry Christmas all. I’m crap at crosswords so don’t expect any meaningful contribution from me.

    A chilly but clear morning here in Southern Burgundy. Children still asleep.

    Pig from Southern Burgundy? (5)
  • BlancheLivermore
    BlancheLivermore Posts: 6,502
    stjohn said:

    TimS said:

    Good morning and merry Christmas all. I’m crap at crosswords so don’t expect any meaningful contribution from me.

    A chilly but clear morning here in Southern Burgundy. Children still asleep.

    Pig from Southern Burgundy? (5)
    Hog victory in the south east (5)
  • TimS
    TimS Posts: 15,712
    JosiasJessop said:

    And in other Christmas news of merry cheer, it looks as though the Russians lost an SU-30 and SU-34 yesterday, making five high-end planes lost in a few days.

    Yet again, making it clear that the Ukrainians make good use of the gifts we give them.

    "Dear Santa, may I have a new Patriot battery? I've been a good boy this year. Signed, Volodymyr Zelenskyy. P.s.: I don't want to be a sneak, but my neighbour Putin's been an absolute stinker this year. They don't call him 'Vlad the Bad' for nothing."

    And as soon as they get a run of unfortunate events like this, Russia decide to pull back the bombers. As Kasparov notes on Twitter, Russia deescalates when it’s getting its arse kicked, and escalates when others show weakness.
  • TheScreamingEagles
    TheScreamingEagles Posts: 122,808
    Happy Christmas everybody.
  • TheScreamingEagles
    TheScreamingEagles Posts: 122,808
    Many thanks to St John for his crossword, I've updated the piece and added an option to download a printable version of the crossword grid.
  • stjohn
    stjohn Posts: 1,910
    BlancheLivermore said:

    stjohn said:

    TimS said:

    Good morning and merry Christmas all. I’m crap at crosswords so don’t expect any meaningful contribution from me.

    A chilly but clear morning here in Southern Burgundy. Children still asleep.

    Pig from Southern Burgundy? (5)
    Hog victory in the south east (5)
    Blanche. As a postie you must know this one.

    Overworked postman.
  • SandraMc
    SandraMc Posts: 763
    21across Teddy Bear. Item honouring US President
  • Alanbrooke
    Alanbrooke Posts: 25,926
    A merry Christmas to all PBers and hope you all have a relaxing break.
  • Foxy
    Foxy Posts: 52,171
    TimS said:

    Good morning and merry Christmas all. I’m crap at crosswords so don’t expect any meaningful contribution from me.

    A chilly but clear morning here in Southern Burgundy. Children still asleep.

    No crossword answers from me either!

    Happy Christmas to all on PB.

    In breaking news it seems Mrs Foxy and I made Santa's nice list.



  • BlancheLivermore
    BlancheLivermore Posts: 6,502
    stjohn said:

    BlancheLivermore said:

    stjohn said:

    TimS said:

    Good morning and merry Christmas all. I’m crap at crosswords so don’t expect any meaningful contribution from me.

    A chilly but clear morning here in Southern Burgundy. Children still asleep.

    Pig from Southern Burgundy? (5)
    Hog victory in the south east (5)
    Blanche. As a postie you must know this one.

    Overworked postman.
    (Groan) how many letters?
  • SandraMc
    SandraMc Posts: 763
    17 down Windfall?
  • stjohn
    stjohn Posts: 1,910
    BlancheLivermore said:

    stjohn said:

    BlancheLivermore said:

    stjohn said:

    TimS said:

    Good morning and merry Christmas all. I’m crap at crosswords so don’t expect any meaningful contribution from me.

    A chilly but clear morning here in Southern Burgundy. Children still asleep.

    Pig from Southern Burgundy? (5)
    Hog victory in the south east (5)
    Blanche. As a postie you must know this one.

    Overworked postman.
    (Groan) how many letters?
    Thousands! 😀
  • SandraMc
    SandraMc Posts: 763
    24. Across League. Hague without leader H plus the French.
  • stjohn
    stjohn Posts: 1,910
    SandraMc said:

    21across Teddy Bear. Item honouring US President

    Yes

    TEDDY BEAR - Anagram of BY TRADE (indicated by originally) around (covers) ED (journalist).

    The Teddy Bear was named in honour of Teddy Roosevelt.
  • stjohn
    stjohn Posts: 1,910
    SandraMc said:

    17 down Windfall?

    Yes.

    WINDFALL - Dual definition. Unexpected drop of fruit from a tree. A windfall tax is a tax on unexpected excessive profits.
  • BlancheLivermore
    BlancheLivermore Posts: 6,502
    I think Sandra and I have probably got this

    You chaps can all stay in bed
  • stjohn
    stjohn Posts: 1,910
    SandraMc said:

    24. Across League. Hague without leader H plus the French.

    Yes. And the league is the Premier League.
  • ydoethur
    ydoethur Posts: 74,263
    BlancheLivermore said:

    stjohn said:

    BlancheLivermore said:

    stjohn said:

    TimS said:

    Good morning and merry Christmas all. I’m crap at crosswords so don’t expect any meaningful contribution from me.

    A chilly but clear morning here in Southern Burgundy. Children still asleep.

    Pig from Southern Burgundy? (5)
    Hog victory in the south east (5)
    Blanche. As a postie you must know this one.

    Overworked postman.
    (Groan) how many letters?
    It’s Christmas, don’t beat yourself up.
  • Foxy
    Foxy Posts: 52,171
    BlancheLivermore said:

    stjohn said:

    BlancheLivermore said:

    stjohn said:

    TimS said:

    Good morning and merry Christmas all. I’m crap at crosswords so don’t expect any meaningful contribution from me.

    A chilly but clear morning here in Southern Burgundy. Children still asleep.

    Pig from Southern Burgundy? (5)
    Hog victory in the south east (5)
    Blanche. As a postie you must know this one.

    Overworked postman.
    (Groan) how many letters?
    To be Frank, we need to stamp out talk of work!
  • BlancheLivermore
    BlancheLivermore Posts: 6,502
    BlancheLivermore said:

    stjohn said:

    TimS said:

    Good morning and merry Christmas all. I’m crap at crosswords so don’t expect any meaningful contribution from me.

    A chilly but clear morning here in Southern Burgundy. Children still asleep.

    Pig from Southern Burgundy? (5)
    Hog victory in the south east (5)
    i News broadcast a fever and a flu (5)
  • malcolmg
    malcolmg Posts: 44,523
    Merry Christmas to everyone
  • ydoethur
    ydoethur Posts: 74,263
    malcolmg said:

    Merry Christmas to everyone

    And to you. I hope your turnips bring you festive cheer.
  • Monksfield
    Monksfield Posts: 2,905
    Merry Christmas Everybody…..
  • Casino_Royale
    Casino_Royale Posts: 63,687
    JosiasJessop said:

    And in other Christmas news of merry cheer, it looks as though the Russians lost an SU-30 and SU-34 yesterday, making five high-end planes lost in a few days.

    Yet again, making it clear that the Ukrainians make good use of the gifts we give them.

    "Dear Santa, may I have a new Patriot battery? I've been a good boy this year. Signed, Volodymyr Zelenskyy. P.s.: I don't want to be a sneak, but my neighbour Putin's been an absolute stinker this year. They don't call him 'Vlad the Bad' for nothing."

    I hope there is no fighting today and peace, even for the Russians.
  • ydoethur
    ydoethur Posts: 74,263
    Casino_Royale said:

    JosiasJessop said:

    And in other Christmas news of merry cheer, it looks as though the Russians lost an SU-30 and SU-34 yesterday, making five high-end planes lost in a few days.

    Yet again, making it clear that the Ukrainians make good use of the gifts we give them.

    "Dear Santa, may I have a new Patriot battery? I've been a good boy this year. Signed, Volodymyr Zelenskyy. P.s.: I don't want to be a sneak, but my neighbour Putin's been an absolute stinker this year. They don't call him 'Vlad the Bad' for nothing."

    I hope there is no fighting today and peace, even for the Russians.
    Russian Christmas isn't for several more days.

    And neither the Israelis nor Palestinians celebrate it.
  • ydoethur
    ydoethur Posts: 74,263
    Foxy said:

    BlancheLivermore said:

    stjohn said:

    BlancheLivermore said:

    stjohn said:

    TimS said:

    Good morning and merry Christmas all. I’m crap at crosswords so don’t expect any meaningful contribution from me.

    A chilly but clear morning here in Southern Burgundy. Children still asleep.

    Pig from Southern Burgundy? (5)
    Hog victory in the south east (5)
    Blanche. As a postie you must know this one.

    Overworked postman.
    (Groan) how many letters?
    To be Frank, we need to stamp out talk of work!
    Letter not get into a punning contest, in case it provokes a different sort of cross word.
  • MarqueeMark
    MarqueeMark Posts: 55,459
    Christmas greetings all. May your protein of choice be moist and your rosties be crunchie.
  • OldKingCole
    OldKingCole Posts: 35,276
    Casino_Royale said:

    JosiasJessop said:

    And in other Christmas news of merry cheer, it looks as though the Russians lost an SU-30 and SU-34 yesterday, making five high-end planes lost in a few days.

    Yet again, making it clear that the Ukrainians make good use of the gifts we give them.

    "Dear Santa, may I have a new Patriot battery? I've been a good boy this year. Signed, Volodymyr Zelenskyy. P.s.: I don't want to be a sneak, but my neighbour Putin's been an absolute stinker this year. They don't call him 'Vlad the Bad' for nothing."

    I hope there is no fighting today and peace, even for the Russians.
    There’s a piece about the 1914 Christmas Day truce in the Guardian. Sad that the ‘top brass’ made sure it wasn’t repeated.
  • BlancheLivermore
    BlancheLivermore Posts: 6,502
    I'm pretty sure that 15D starts REEN----- for leaderless (Green) party

    But I can't work out 'most of county'
  • OldKingCole
    OldKingCole Posts: 35,276
    ydoethur said:

    Casino_Royale said:

    JosiasJessop said:

    And in other Christmas news of merry cheer, it looks as though the Russians lost an SU-30 and SU-34 yesterday, making five high-end planes lost in a few days.

    Yet again, making it clear that the Ukrainians make good use of the gifts we give them.

    "Dear Santa, may I have a new Patriot battery? I've been a good boy this year. Signed, Volodymyr Zelenskyy. P.s.: I don't want to be a sneak, but my neighbour Putin's been an absolute stinker this year. They don't call him 'Vlad the Bad' for nothing."

    I hope there is no fighting today and peace, even for the Russians.
    Russian Christmas isn't for several more days.

    And neither the Israelis nor Palestinians celebrate it.
    Some Palestinians are Christians.
  • ydoethur
    ydoethur Posts: 74,263
    OldKingCole said:

    ydoethur said:

    Casino_Royale said:

    JosiasJessop said:

    And in other Christmas news of merry cheer, it looks as though the Russians lost an SU-30 and SU-34 yesterday, making five high-end planes lost in a few days.

    Yet again, making it clear that the Ukrainians make good use of the gifts we give them.

    "Dear Santa, may I have a new Patriot battery? I've been a good boy this year. Signed, Volodymyr Zelenskyy. P.s.: I don't want to be a sneak, but my neighbour Putin's been an absolute stinker this year. They don't call him 'Vlad the Bad' for nothing."

    I hope there is no fighting today and peace, even for the Russians.
    Russian Christmas isn't for several more days.

    And neither the Israelis nor Palestinians celebrate it.
    Some Palestinians are Christians.
    I'm aware of that, having stayed with one of them last time I was there, but it's a tiny minority.

    And the news from Gaza this morning doesn't suggest either side are thinking of observing a ceasefire.
  • BlancheLivermore
    BlancheLivermore Posts: 6,502
    BlancheLivermore said:

    I'm pretty sure that 15D starts REEN----- for leaderless (Green) party

    But I can't work out 'most of county'

    REENDORSE

    Dorset..
  • OldKingCole
    OldKingCole Posts: 35,276
    ydoethur said:

    OldKingCole said:

    ydoethur said:

    Casino_Royale said:

    JosiasJessop said:

    And in other Christmas news of merry cheer, it looks as though the Russians lost an SU-30 and SU-34 yesterday, making five high-end planes lost in a few days.

    Yet again, making it clear that the Ukrainians make good use of the gifts we give them.

    "Dear Santa, may I have a new Patriot battery? I've been a good boy this year. Signed, Volodymyr Zelenskyy. P.s.: I don't want to be a sneak, but my neighbour Putin's been an absolute stinker this year. They don't call him 'Vlad the Bad' for nothing."

    I hope there is no fighting today and peace, even for the Russians.
    Russian Christmas isn't for several more days.

    And neither the Israelis nor Palestinians celebrate it.
    Some Palestinians are Christians.
    I'm aware of that, having stayed with one of them last time I was there, but it's a tiny minority.

    And the news from Gaza this morning doesn't suggest either side are thinking of observing a ceasefire.
    Didn’t realise there were very few Palestinian Christians.

    And as you infer, the news from the ‘Holy Land’ is anything but holy. Gaza was, biblically, the home of the Philistines, the enemies of the Israelites, and the IDF seems to be reverting to the time of David.
  • stjohn
    stjohn Posts: 1,910
    BlancheLivermore said:

    BlancheLivermore said:

    I'm pretty sure that 15D starts REEN----- for leaderless (Green) party

    But I can't work out 'most of county'

    REENDORSE

    Dorset..
    Yes. And to REENDORSE is to back again.
  • dixiedean
    dixiedean Posts: 30,317
    Good morning and a very Merry Christmas to one and all!
  • ydoethur
    ydoethur Posts: 74,263
    OldKingCole said:

    ydoethur said:

    OldKingCole said:

    ydoethur said:

    Casino_Royale said:

    JosiasJessop said:

    And in other Christmas news of merry cheer, it looks as though the Russians lost an SU-30 and SU-34 yesterday, making five high-end planes lost in a few days.

    Yet again, making it clear that the Ukrainians make good use of the gifts we give them.

    "Dear Santa, may I have a new Patriot battery? I've been a good boy this year. Signed, Volodymyr Zelenskyy. P.s.: I don't want to be a sneak, but my neighbour Putin's been an absolute stinker this year. They don't call him 'Vlad the Bad' for nothing."

    I hope there is no fighting today and peace, even for the Russians.
    Russian Christmas isn't for several more days.

    And neither the Israelis nor Palestinians celebrate it.
    Some Palestinians are Christians.
    I'm aware of that, having stayed with one of them last time I was there, but it's a tiny minority.

    And the news from Gaza this morning doesn't suggest either side are thinking of observing a ceasefire.
    Didn’t realise there were very few Palestinian Christians.

    And as you infer, the news from the ‘Holy Land’ is anything but holy. Gaza was, biblically, the home of the Philistines, the enemies of the Israelites, and the IDF seems to be reverting to the time of David.
    I can only admire your optimism. Right now I'd say it's going back to the time of Samson.

    Well, it was in Gaza that he destroyed the temple of Dagon, killing all the Philistines and himself in the process.
  • BlancheLivermore
    BlancheLivermore Posts: 6,502
    25A HARRISON

    Veep = HARRIS
    Working = ON
  • stjohn
    stjohn Posts: 1,910
    BlancheLivermore said:

    25A HARRISON

    Veep = HARRIS
    Working = ON

    Yes. Vice President Kamala Harris. The answer HARRISON could be one of two Presidents. William Henry Harrison (9th) or Benjamin Harrison (23rd). Ford is actor Harrison Ford and not President Gerald Ford (38th).
  • SandraMc
    SandraMc Posts: 763
    7down Brezhnev?
  • BlancheLivermore
    BlancheLivermore Posts: 6,502
    SandraMc said:

    7down Brezhnev?

    And 5A FORBES
  • Gadfly
    Gadfly Posts: 1,205
    14A George Orwell?
  • stjohn
    stjohn Posts: 1,910
    SandraMc said:

    7down Brezhnev?

    Yes.

    BREZHNEV - Z (letter from Zinoviev) inside (stops) BREH (HERB reversed/backing. HERB is an informal name for HERBert Asquith) + NEV (an informal name for NEVille Chamberlain).

    The Zinoviev Letter was a political scandal in 1924 just before the General Election and at the time both Herbert Asquith and Neville Chamberlain were MPs
  • stjohn
    stjohn Posts: 1,910
    BlancheLivermore said:

    SandraMc said:

    7down Brezhnev?

    And 5A FORBES
    Yes

    FORBES - For Bes (Egyptian god).

    Kate Forbes is a senior SNP politician and known for her strong christian faith.
  • stjohn
    stjohn Posts: 1,910
    Gadfly said:

    14A George Orwell?

    Yes.

    GEORGE ORWELL - GEORGE OR sounds like (expressed) Jaw Jaw (Churchill’s Cold War diplomacy) + WELL (ably)

    Eric Blair was George Orwell’s real name.
  • SandraMc
    SandraMc Posts: 763
    4down Ante Meridian=PM
  • stjohn
    stjohn Posts: 1,910
    SandraMc said:

    4down Ante Meridian=PM

    Not quite
  • Barnesian
    Barnesian Posts: 9,221
    edited December 2023
    stjohn said:

    SandraMc said:

    4down Ante Meridian=PM

    Not quite
    ante meridiem
  • mwadams
    mwadams Posts: 3,776
    Merry Christmas and may the only cross word today be this one.
  • stjohn
    stjohn Posts: 1,910
    Barnesian said:

    stjohn said:

    SandraMc said:

    4down Ante Meridian=PM

    Not quite
    ante meridiem
    I refer the honourable gentleman to the answer I gave some moments ago. 😀
  • boulay
    boulay Posts: 6,612
    Happy Christmas to posters, lurkers, the banned and the departed - especially Ishmael if he still checks in. Have a wonderful day.
  • IanB2
    IanB2 Posts: 52,314
    As a break from the crossword, some sage words from Hardman:

    Starmer won the Labour leadership in part because he didn’t give too strong a sense of what he was against or for. When I spoke to many MPs who ended up backing him during that contest in 2020, even they repeatedly said “he hasn’t said that much about what he believes yet”.

    [Labour] has a team at its HQ working on readiness for government that is known by superstitious staff as the “team with no name” because they fear cursing their chances by seeming too presumptive about a victory.

    Starmer needs his party to know what it is facing so it will support him through major reforms early on. He needs the public to be well aware of that so it buys into what will have to be a long-term project.

    One of the reasons the Tories are so out of love with being in power is that it is hard, relentless and wearing. It is also easy to fail to deliver on all of your priorities, which is something Sunak is having to contemplate given that he and his predecessors don’t have much evidence of Tory achievements other than on education reform. If and when Labour gets into government on a “time for change” ticket, it won’t have any time to work out what it wants to do, or to change course because the reforms would be too unpopular with certain special interest groups. It barely has much time…

    That creates a stick or twist dilemma for Starmer in an election year. Sticking with the current cautious approach will probably be enough to get Labour over the line this time, so woeful is the state of the Tories. But it risks leaving the party bereft of the big ideas and momentum that will propel it to start the business of change. Starmer rightly admires Thatcher for being clear about how she would transform Britain, and even more so for the fact she managed it. It’s his turn to harness that for his own purpose.
  • Barnesian
    Barnesian Posts: 9,221
    stjohn said:

    Barnesian said:

    stjohn said:

    SandraMc said:

    4down Ante Meridian=PM

    Not quite
    ante meridiem
    I refer the honourable gentleman to the answer I gave some moments ago. 😀
    post!
  • stjohn
    stjohn Posts: 1,910
    Barnesian said:

    stjohn said:

    Barnesian said:

    stjohn said:

    SandraMc said:

    4down Ante Meridian=PM

    Not quite
    ante meridiem
    I refer the honourable gentleman to the answer I gave some moments ago. 😀
    post!
    Yes!

    POST MERIDIEM - POST (office) + in (inside) M M (months) ERE (before) around (capturing) IDI

    PM is short for Post Meridiem. The answer the clue could suggest which fits is Lady Thatcher though she wasn’t ennobled at the time of course.
  • SandraMc
    SandraMc Posts: 763
    12 across Erato. One of the Muses within over a Tory.
  • stjohn
    stjohn Posts: 1,910
    edited December 2023
    SandraMc said:

    12 across Erato. One of the Muses within over a Tory.

    Yes. Stuffing indicating its the internal contents of the words ovER A TOry.
  • SandraMc
    SandraMc Posts: 763
    If 4 down is post not Ante Meridian. ( I still think PM = Ante). then 1across could be Phillips.
  • OnlyLivingBoy
    OnlyLivingBoy Posts: 16,660
    I haven't scrolled down all the way so sorry if someone has already given this answer: 3 down London Eye.
    Merry Christmas Everyone, I hope you all have a wonderful day. And thanks StJohn for the crossword!
  • BlancheLivermore
    BlancheLivermore Posts: 6,502
    SandraMc said:

    If 4 down is post not Ante Meridian. ( I still think PM = Ante). then 1across could be Phillips.

    Just beat me! Sounds like fillips
  • stjohn
    stjohn Posts: 1,910
    SandraMc said:

    If 4 down is post not Ante Meridian. ( I still think PM = Ante). then 1across could be Phillips.

    Yes.

    PHILLIPS - homophone (indicated by declared) of fillips (bonuses)

    Jess Phillips. Labour MP.
  • SandraMc
    SandraMc Posts: 763
    Just realised I've been talking rubbish about AM/PM. Apologies. Got up early this morning.
  • Fairliered
    Fairliered Posts: 6,027
    Merry Christmas everyone! I hope Santa was good to you all.
  • BlancheLivermore
    BlancheLivermore Posts: 6,502
    2D ISAIAH
  • stodge
    stodge Posts: 14,908
    Christmas Morning all :)

    A peaceful and happy Christmas to everyone, lurker or contributor, on PB, especially those who keep this wonderful site going through the warp and weft of daily politics.
  • BlancheLivermore
    BlancheLivermore Posts: 6,502
    BlancheLivermore said:

    2D ISAIAH

    "is a" =ISA
    Leader of industry = I
    Understood = AH
  • Carnyx
    Carnyx Posts: 44,654
    Christmas Morning all ...

    19 return of One Direction is an aim of some Greeks

    Enosis 'union' - in this context of Cyprus and Greece

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