Cryptic crossword No 53

No feedback yet PM? Perhaps too hard for some, I certainly found this a challenge, but much to like: I'll single out 1d, 19a and 27a for especial praise, but there are plenty of other good 'uns. Some reservations: definitions and wordplay a bit loose in places. I wouldn't use the definitions you have, for 12a (not even as a DBE) or 23a, and surely 17d should be "NEW Labour"? Not too keen on "fell through" as a deletion indicator (if I've got it right). 9a should be enumerated (cont.)...

Thanks Puzzlemaster, that was quite a challenge! I was defeated by 7d and 12a. 7d isn't a word I knew and the wordplay wasn't quite explicit enough to lead me in the right direction. I was also let down by not knowing the intended meaning of "crus" in 12a, instead focussing on the wine! The last to go in was 5d after I had revealed 12a and that gave me a smile! There are some excellent clues but I agree with Laccaria's comment that some of the wordplay could have been a bit tighter...

Like others, a mixed bag for me. A good challenge. I liked some of the disguises, e.g the anagram in 15a, use of "cold front" in 19a, "counterattack" in 26a. 1d is a very nice clue. I liked 11a and 15a too. But there are a few where the lure of a nice surface seems to have made the clue a bit loose: 16d, 25d ("undo" doesn't really imply reversal), 12a, 4d. Laccaria has picked up on 9a. Plenty of fun though - enjoyed it. Thanks.

That was tough. I guessed 5d and 18d but still can’t parse them. 9a was a somewhat annoying DNF because I was looking for a single 9-letter word. I thought 12a was just about ok, but the whole point of 23a is that it doesn’t flap! I really liked 1d and was entertained by 4d. The image conjured up by 19a was fun, too. As Laccaria says, much to like.