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The annual St John PB Christmas crossword – politicalbetting.com

SystemSystem Posts: 12,220
edited December 25 in General
imageThe annual St John PB Christmas crossword – politicalbetting.com

Political Crossword Clues 2024

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Comments

  • Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 61,976
    FPT: Merry Christmas, everyone.

    Cheers for making this, Mr. John.
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 72,303
    I'll second MD.
    Merry Christmas all !

    Much appreciation for our crossword compiler; I'll follow the results, but catering responsibilities will preclude even my usual feeble efforts.
  • malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 43,517
    merry Christmas to all
  • JosiasJessopJosiasJessop Posts: 43,515
    rcs1000 said:

    malcolmg said:

    merry Christmas to all

    Hang on; let's not go overboard.
    Except if we're on a Russian ship. Then the safest place is overboard...
  • OnlyLivingBoyOnlyLivingBoy Posts: 15,903
    Merry Christmas and thank you stjohn for this brilliant pb institution.
    If I can kick things off with 21 across, I believe the answer is entryism.
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 71,813

    rcs1000 said:

    malcolmg said:

    merry Christmas to all

    Hang on; let's not go overboard.
    Except if we're on a Russian ship. Then the safest place is overboard...
    Take a bow, sir.
  • SandpitSandpit Posts: 55,046
    ydoethur said:

    rcs1000 said:

    malcolmg said:

    merry Christmas to all

    Hang on; let's not go overboard.
    Except if we're on a Russian ship. Then the safest place is overboard...
    Take a bow, sir.
    That’s a bit stern.
  • OnlyLivingBoyOnlyLivingBoy Posts: 15,903
    Also 2 down - Tutankhamun.
  • Happy Christmas, StJohn, and thank you once again for making this entertainment available.
  • stjohnstjohn Posts: 1,889
    21. Militant strategy first seen in York Minster restoration (8)
    ENTRYISM. A political strategy once employed by the Militant movement
    - Y (first seen in York) + MINSTER all anagrammed (restoration)
  • AnneJGPAnneJGP Posts: 3,100
    And we're off on the punning. Another great PB tradition!

    Good morning and Happy Christmas everyone. Thank you to all whose effort has made this place of meeting possible.
  • stjohnstjohn Posts: 1,889
    2. Egyptian workers do badly on human rights (11)
    TUTANKHAMUN. Egyptian Pharaoh.
    - TU (Trade Unions, workers) + TANK (do badly) + HAMUN (anagram of
    human, indicated by “rights” meaning corrects
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 71,813
    Sandpit said:

    ydoethur said:

    rcs1000 said:

    malcolmg said:

    merry Christmas to all

    Hang on; let's not go overboard.
    Except if we're on a Russian ship. Then the safest place is overboard...
    Take a bow, sir.
    That’s a bit stern.
    Well, maybe it made a few waves.
  • Merry Christmas and thank you stjohn for this brilliant pb institution.
    If I can kick things off with 21 across, I believe the answer is entryism.

    Tick.
  • OnlyLivingBoyOnlyLivingBoy Posts: 15,903
    18 across - Amin.
  • stjohnstjohn Posts: 1,889
    18. Dictator for a short time (4)
    AMIN Idi. Ugandan dictator
    - A + MIN (minute)
  • Anybody wanting to listen to a nice Christmassy show might like this by Marf, once of this Parish.

    https://www.mixcloud.com/radiowinchcombe/night-train-with-martha-richler-aka-marf-22-december-2022-an-oscar-wilde-christmas/
  • IanB2IanB2 Posts: 50,175
    edited December 25
    Let's hope for a nice, quiet Xmas Day, with no tsunamis or suchlike.

    Although Gorbachev did resign on Xmas Day, if Pres Putin needs a hint....or, alternatively, Ceausescu met his end on this day.
  • JosiasJessopJosiasJessop Posts: 43,515
    With their usual inimitable style, Russia is celebrating civilised Christmas Day (not theirs...) by bombarding Ukraine with missile.

    https://x.com/ZelenskyyUa/status/1871826731666985172
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 72,303
    stjohn said:

    Morning all. Please feel free to solve any of the clues in the comments.

    There are clues in the comments ?!
  • CarnyxCarnyx Posts: 43,423
    edited December 25
    27 AC. Control service led by former minister (6)

    Rudder. Amber RUDD + ER - emergency room.

    Or at least I think so!
  • stjohnstjohn Posts: 1,889
    Carynx. I like it. But no. Not RUDDER.
  • felixfelix Posts: 15,175
    3 down - Eagle
  • 8d

    PHILIP HAMMOND
  • stjohnstjohn Posts: 1,889
    EAGLE. One of two twins who are both Labour MPs. Maria and Angela Eagle.
    Also an eagle is a score in golf that is two under par.
  • stjohnstjohn Posts: 1,889
    PHILIP HAMMOND. Former Tory Chancellor of the Exchequer.
    - Anagram indicated by cavorting of PM + I (one) + HON MP + HILDA
  • 17d

    REMAIN(D)ER
  • stjohnstjohn Posts: 1,889
    REMAINER Dominic Grieve is a Tory and a remainer who campaigned against
    Brexit
    - REMAIN(D)ER (those left behind) not having D (died)
  • MonksfieldMonksfield Posts: 2,809
    Merry Christmas all….


  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 52,979
    Foxy said:

    IanB2 said:

    Season’s Greetings to all…on a very grey Xmas morning


    Dog for scale...

    Happy Christmas PB.

    Traditional breakfast of chocolate orange, Percy Pigs and Toblerone being served in the Foxy household.
    We'll all be round shortly...
  • felixfelix Posts: 15,175
    26 across - Hemingway?
  • CarnyxCarnyx Posts: 43,423
    stjohn said:

    Carynx. I like it. But no. Not RUDDER.

    25 down would have had to be EMU ...
  • stjohnstjohn Posts: 1,889
    Felix. No not HEMINGWAY.
  • carnforthcarnforth Posts: 4,872
    edited December 25
    ....
  • malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 43,517

    rcs1000 said:

    malcolmg said:

    merry Christmas to all

    Hang on; let's not go overboard.
    Except if we're on a Russian ship. Then the safest place is overboard...
    hopefully many more to sink, they are an evil bunch of barstewards, bombing civilians on Christmas day, the lowest of the low.
  • JosiasJessopJosiasJessop Posts: 43,515
    And in similar festive mood, a plane has crashed in Kazakhstan. :(

    https://x.com/Turbinetraveler/status/1871824125246808395
  • OldKingColeOldKingCole Posts: 33,733
    malcolmg said:

    rcs1000 said:

    malcolmg said:

    merry Christmas to all

    Hang on; let's not go overboard.
    Except if we're on a Russian ship. Then the safest place is overboard...
    hopefully many more to sink, they are an evil bunch of barstewards, bombing civilians on Christmas day, the lowest of the low.
    You’re not enough to recall Christmas Day 1941 in Hong Kong, obviously.
  • Nigelb said:

    stjohn said:

    Morning all. Please feel free to solve any of the clues in the comments.

    There are clues in the comments ?!
    One's left (hard) clues in the comments. Confused? Hence let's get left over (10)
  • One of the cold war myths was that the best time to attack the US with nuclear weapons would be 3:00 am EST. This is when numbers on duty would be the lowest and people at their least attentive. Something to look forward to every Xmas morning.
  • LostPasswordLostPassword Posts: 18,930
    Battlebus said:

    One of the cold war myths was that the best time to attack the US with nuclear weapons would be 3:00 am EST. This is when numbers on duty would be the lowest and people at their least attentive. Something to look forward to every Xmas morning.

    This is also why the "reminder to move" on fitbits and Apple Watches is at ten minutes to the hour, so that people will be encouraged to go and get their dose of caffeine with time to return to their stations before the scheduled nuclear attack on the hour.

    Merry Christmas everyone.

    And now we peel carrots.
  • OldKingColeOldKingCole Posts: 33,733
    Bucks Fizz for breakfast; is that a waster of Nyetimber? Shall drink some of it without orange juice later, though!
  • TheuniondivvieTheuniondivvie Posts: 42,170
    Battlebus said:

    One of the cold war myths was that the best time to attack the US with nuclear weapons would be 3:00 am EST. This is when numbers on duty would be the lowest and people at their least attentive. Something to look forward to every Xmas morning.

    Plus they’d be occupied with the radar tracking Santa’s sleigh bollox.
  • CookieCookie Posts: 14,082

    My son just spent twenty minutes playing 'Jingle Bells' over and over on his guitar upstairs.

    He stopped about half an hour ago, yet I can still hear 'Jingle Bells' playing in my brain.

    MAKE IT STOP!!!! :)

    Fun fact: Jingle Bells is not a Christmas song. It was written for Thanksgiving. There's no mention of, or even implication of, Christmas in the lyrics.

    Though you might want to double check this before setting as a quiz question!
  • PhilPhil Posts: 2,337
    Happy Christmas to all PBers who celebrate.

    May all your political bets pay out.
  • 22a

    (B) ATTLE + E
  • PhilPhil Posts: 2,337
    Nigelb said:
    Just a well executed drone flythrough I think. The drone switch in the middle is cute though.
  • squareroot2squareroot2 Posts: 6,845
    Merry Christmas to all.
  • 9a

    TUGENDHAT

  • TheuniondivvieTheuniondivvie Posts: 42,170

    Merry Christmas everyone.

    On this day, let us remember that we are a community, and while we may disagree, it is this unnatural interest in politics that binds us together.

    Merry Christmas to the unnatural interests community.
  • 4d

    TUNISIAN

    UNI in (SAINT)*
  • Andy_JSAndy_JS Posts: 32,971
    Merry Xmas everyone.
  • stjohnstjohn Posts: 1,889
    22 Across ATTLEE Clement.
    - (B)ATTLE (fight) initially lost + E (European)
    4 Down. TUNISIAN
    - UNI (educational institution) inside (inspired by) TSIAN (anagram of saint,
    indicated by extraordinary).
    9 Across. TUGENDHAT Tom. Tory and former Minister of State for Security
    - TUG (upset GUT - stomach) + anagram of AND THE (indicated by runs).
  • 14a

    WHATSAPP

    WHAT + PPS<- + A
  • Richard_NabaviRichard_Nabavi Posts: 30,822
    Merry Christmas to all.
  • 26a

    PENINSULA

  • OldKingColeOldKingCole Posts: 33,733
    Eventually, Nadolig Llawen everyone.

    I do admire people who can solve crossword clues, of the sort we have each Christmas. My brain just doesn't work that way.
  • stjohnstjohn Posts: 1,889
    14 across. WHATSAPP
    - WHAT (Pardon) + SPP (PPS, parliamentary private secretary - minister’s
    assistant) reversed (spinning) around (over) A
  • stjohnstjohn Posts: 1,889
    26 Across PENINSULA The Peninsula War, 1807-14, was fought in the Iberian Peninsula
    - PEN (Writer) + IN + SU (US, America, returned) + LA (city - Los Angeles)
  • SandpitSandpit Posts: 55,046
    Local pub’s turkey dinner. I spy a Yorkshire Pudding.
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 71,813
    Sandpit said:

    Local pub’s turkey dinner. I spy a Yorkshire Pudding.

    Careful, people have been banned for putting disgusting images on PB.
  • Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 61,976
    edited December 25
    Sandpit said:

    Local pub’s turkey dinner. I spy a Yorkshire Pudding.

    Hope you enjoy your traditional festive dining in the United Yorkshire Emirates.

    Edited extra bit: also, roast carrots and parsnips are fantastic.
  • malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 43,517

    malcolmg said:

    rcs1000 said:

    malcolmg said:

    merry Christmas to all

    Hang on; let's not go overboard.
    Except if we're on a Russian ship. Then the safest place is overboard...
    hopefully many more to sink, they are an evil bunch of barstewards, bombing civilians on Christmas day, the lowest of the low.
    You’re not enough to recall Christmas Day 1941 in Hong Kong, obviously.
    OKC, no I am nowhere near that age
  • SandyRentoolSandyRentool Posts: 22,253
    Sandpit said:

    Local pub’s turkey dinner. I spy a Yorkshire Pudding.

    Any turkey sausages wrapped in turkey bacon?
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 51,196
    ydoethur said:

    Sandpit said:

    ydoethur said:

    rcs1000 said:

    malcolmg said:

    merry Christmas to all

    Hang on; let's not go overboard.
    Except if we're on a Russian ship. Then the safest place is overboard...
    Take a bow, sir.
    That’s a bit stern.
    Well, maybe it made a few waves.
    Starboard or… Port?
  • SandpitSandpit Posts: 55,046

    Sandpit said:

    Local pub’s turkey dinner. I spy a Yorkshire Pudding.

    Any turkey sausages wrapped in turkey bacon?
    Thankfully not! Proper sausages and proper bacon, you can get both pork and champagne in the sandpit, if you know where to look 👀
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 51,196

    Oscar's (my godson's son) first Christmas:


    A winning Oscar performance.
    +1 for the use of a dog for scale
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 51,196

    Morning all and a very merry Christmas. A particularly good one for me this year. I was due back offshore on 23rd but the rig was damaged in the recent bad weather and now I am postponed to 3rd January. So an unexpected Christmas at home.

    Hope those on the rig are ok and that anyone planning to come onshore for Christmas made it.
  • RobDRobD Posts: 60,046

    Oscar's (my godson's son) first Christmas:


    A winning Oscar performance.
    +1 for the use of a dog for scale
    The one on the left is imperial scale, the right metric?
  • CHartCHart Posts: 96
    Merry xmas from Russia.

    Massive Russian hypersonic and ballistic missile attack across Ukraine.

    This morning, Ukraine experienced a series of Russian missile and UAV strikes, leading to widespread power outages. Reports indicate significant damage to military and infrastructure facilities across multiple regions:

    • Kharkov - explosions reported near a tractor plant used for repairing UAF tanks.
    • Starokostiantyniv airfield, Khmelnytsky region was hit, along with explosions reported in the Kirovograd, Kremenchug, Dnepropetrovsk and Poltava regions.
    • Kh-101 and Iskander missiles, along with UAVs.
    • Power outages were initiated across Ukraine to prevent system overload and damage.
    • Air raid alarms declared nationwide.

    https://x.com/DD_Geopolitics/status/1871781152748703896
  • malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 43,517
    CHart said:

    Merry xmas from Russia.

    Massive Russian hypersonic and ballistic missile attack across Ukraine.

    This morning, Ukraine experienced a series of Russian missile and UAV strikes, leading to widespread power outages. Reports indicate significant damage to military and infrastructure facilities across multiple regions:

    • Kharkov - explosions reported near a tractor plant used for repairing UAF tanks.
    • Starokostiantyniv airfield, Khmelnytsky region was hit, along with explosions reported in the Kirovograd, Kremenchug, Dnepropetrovsk and Poltava regions.
    • Kh-101 and Iskander missiles, along with UAVs.
    • Power outages were initiated across Ukraine to prevent system overload and damage.
    • Air raid alarms declared nationwide.

    https://x.com/DD_Geopolitics/status/1871781152748703896

    Time the Yanks got out from behind the sofa and sent Ukraine some real stuff
  • Bravura performance from @BlancheLivermore this morning. I regard the ability to solve crosswords as evidence of a mis-spent youth. I clearly mis-spent my youth some other way. Wish I could remember how.

    I love cryptic clues, thanks to @stjohn for another cryptic Christmas cracker

    I remember the first clue that was explained to me, by an English teacher when I was about twelve:

    Vast fire destroyed top hotel (4,4)

    FIVE STAR


    I knew then that I wanted to learn how to solve them, but didn't teach myself until I was at uni - when I was meant to be learning maths

    I've solved a few more clues from this puzzle, but I don't want to hog the whole thing..

  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 51,196
    malcolmg said:

    CHart said:

    Merry xmas from Russia.

    Massive Russian hypersonic and ballistic missile attack across Ukraine.

    This morning, Ukraine experienced a series of Russian missile and UAV strikes, leading to widespread power outages. Reports indicate significant damage to military and infrastructure facilities across multiple regions:

    • Kharkov - explosions reported near a tractor plant used for repairing UAF tanks.
    • Starokostiantyniv airfield, Khmelnytsky region was hit, along with explosions reported in the Kirovograd, Kremenchug, Dnepropetrovsk and Poltava regions.
    • Kh-101 and Iskander missiles, along with UAVs.
    • Power outages were initiated across Ukraine to prevent system overload and damage.
    • Air raid alarms declared nationwide.

    https://x.com/DD_Geopolitics/status/1871781152748703896

    Time the Yanks got out from behind the sofa and sent Ukraine some real stuff
    Perhaps send a care package to *Russia*


  • BurgessianBurgessian Posts: 2,813

    malcolmg said:

    rcs1000 said:

    malcolmg said:

    merry Christmas to all

    Hang on; let's not go overboard.
    Except if we're on a Russian ship. Then the safest place is overboard...
    hopefully many more to sink, they are an evil bunch of barstewards, bombing civilians on Christmas day, the lowest of the low.
    You’re not enough to recall Christmas Day 1941 in Hong Kong, obviously.
    Just looked that up on wiki. Kinda wished I hadn't. No wonder there wasn't very much sympathy for the Japanese as decisions were being made in 45.
  • 5a

    WILSON

    (IN SLOW)*
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 72,303
    Netanyahu: "You can't be president of 🇺🇸 last time I checked right?"

    Elon Musk: "Not officially."

    Netanyahu: *laughs* — "OK, so you're the unofficial president..."

    https://x.com/TheTNHoller/status/1871687955267641509
  • Morning all and a very merry Christmas. A particularly good one for me this year. I was due back offshore on 23rd but the rig was damaged in the recent bad weather and now I am postponed to 3rd January. So an unexpected Christmas at home.

    Hope those on the rig are ok and that anyone planning to come onshore for Christmas made it.
    Yep. All okay and a few more of us onshore than originally planned so some unexpected good cheer.
  • CHartCHart Posts: 96

    malcolmg said:

    CHart said:

    Merry xmas from Russia.

    Massive Russian hypersonic and ballistic missile attack across Ukraine.

    This morning, Ukraine experienced a series of Russian missile and UAV strikes, leading to widespread power outages. Reports indicate significant damage to military and infrastructure facilities across multiple regions:

    • Kharkov - explosions reported near a tractor plant used for repairing UAF tanks.
    • Starokostiantyniv airfield, Khmelnytsky region was hit, along with explosions reported in the Kirovograd, Kremenchug, Dnepropetrovsk and Poltava regions.
    • Kh-101 and Iskander missiles, along with UAVs.
    • Power outages were initiated across Ukraine to prevent system overload and damage.
    • Air raid alarms declared nationwide.

    https://x.com/DD_Geopolitics/status/1871781152748703896

    Time the Yanks got out from behind the sofa and sent Ukraine some real stuff
    Perhaps send a care package to *Russia*


    Perhaps we can send some of your cryptic quotes to Putin to distract him.
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 51,196
    CHart said:

    malcolmg said:

    CHart said:

    Merry xmas from Russia.

    Massive Russian hypersonic and ballistic missile attack across Ukraine.

    This morning, Ukraine experienced a series of Russian missile and UAV strikes, leading to widespread power outages. Reports indicate significant damage to military and infrastructure facilities across multiple regions:

    • Kharkov - explosions reported near a tractor plant used for repairing UAF tanks.
    • Starokostiantyniv airfield, Khmelnytsky region was hit, along with explosions reported in the Kirovograd, Kremenchug, Dnepropetrovsk and Poltava regions.
    • Kh-101 and Iskander missiles, along with UAVs.
    • Power outages were initiated across Ukraine to prevent system overload and damage.
    • Air raid alarms declared nationwide.

    https://x.com/DD_Geopolitics/status/1871781152748703896

    Time the Yanks got out from behind the sofa and sent Ukraine some real stuff
    Perhaps send a care package to *Russia*


    Perhaps we can send some of your cryptic quotes to Putin to distract him.
    That’s not cryptic.

    It’s the MIRV Griffin show… ands here’s MIRV!
  • FrankBoothFrankBooth Posts: 9,929
    I'm not much of a crossword fiend but Merry Christmas to you all and it's nice to know St John is still doing these each year.
  • ohnotnowohnotnow Posts: 4,047

    Bravura performance from @BlancheLivermore this morning. I regard the ability to solve crosswords as evidence of a mis-spent youth. I clearly mis-spent my youth some other way. Wish I could remember how.

    I love cryptic clues, thanks to @stjohn for another cryptic Christmas cracker

    I remember the first clue that was explained to me, by an English teacher when I was about twelve:

    Vast fire destroyed top hotel (4,4)

    FIVE STAR


    I knew then that I wanted to learn how to solve them, but didn't teach myself until I was at uni - when I was meant to be learning maths

    I've solved a few more clues from this puzzle, but I don't want to hog the whole thing..

    I was at a party many years ago and got chatting to a guy. The usual small-talk "Oh, so what is it you do?" and he explained he set the crossword for one of the broadsheets. And I did a big "Wow! That's amazing! Tell me about it! That's so cool!".

    He thought I was taking the p*ss and I had to apologetically explain that, no, really, I was super excited about it!
  • 5d

    WATSON

    waits on, minus i
  • BlancheLivermoreBlancheLivermore Posts: 6,015
    edited December 25
    12a must be

    LEO AMERY

    but I can't see how oam is 'over America'

    'over revolutionary' (Mao backwards) maybe? @stjohn ?

    Or is o over, and am America?

    Edit.. of course o is over. Cricket scoreboard abbreviation
  • 11a

    ENGELS

    GELS (bonds) with E and N (bridge opponents)
  • 10a

    NATO

    tan backwards and o for over
  • stjohnstjohn Posts: 1,889
    5 Across. WILSON Woodrow or Harold.
    - Anagram (indicated by motion) of IN SLOW

    11across. ENGELS Friedrich. German philosopher and political theorist
    - GELS (bonds) with E N (opponents round a bridge table - East and North)

    12 across. LEO AMERY Former Tory minister and advocate of British imperialism
    - LEERY (suspicious) with O (over) + AM (America) being taken inside

    5 down. WATSON. Lord Tom Watson, a Labour peer
    WAITS ON (attends to) without (missing) I (individual)
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