No 11582, Wednesday 23 Dec 2015, Lightning

Crisp definitions from Lightning

ACROSS
1   Clear-cut argument against councillor settled evenly (8) CONCRETE {CON}{CR}{sEtTlEd}
5   Grand conclusion in North America breaking record (6) FINALE {FI{NA}LE}
9   Democrat nearly has to change course in period of recession (8) DOWNTURN {D}{OWNs}{TURN}
10 Heist to steal royal necklace, say (6) STRING {R} in {STING}
12 Suggest slim plywood walls (5) IMPLY [T]
13 PM in pursuit of nuclear option, overrules national leaders (9) AFTERNOON {AFTER}{Nu...r}{Op...n}{Ov...s}{Na...l}
14 Earth for one, is special at present (6) SPHERE {SP}{HERE}
16 Get ready before cut back (7) PREPARE {PRE}{PARE}
19 Decline a prize (7) ATROPHY {A}{TROPHY}
21 Untidy mat has caused respiratory illness (6) ASTHMA*
23 Type of document describing account (9) CHARACTER {CHARTER} around {AC}
25 Sip some tea with speed after commencement (5) TASTE {Tea}{hASTE}
26 Line from thesis about resistance (6) TROPIC {T{R}OPIC}

27 Conclude international gold is poor in quality (8) INFERIOR {INFER}{I}{OR}
28 Head of company to present unfinished energy providing beverage (6) COFFEE {Co...y}{OFFEr}{E}
29 Very few edges of Gillespie go through fielding position after first spell (8) SMIDGEON {S}{Gi..pE} in {MID-ON} after {Spell}

DOWN
1   Dishonourable man to stop living with assistant (6) CADDIE {CAD}{DIE}
2   Four points by essay on The Guardian, perhaps (9) NEWSPAPER {N}{E}{W}{S}{PAPER}
3   Rogue disheartened by attempt to prosecute again (5) RETRY {RoguE}{TRY}
4   Carter raced to protect open area (7) TERRACE [T]
6   Recent tip criminal cut off (9) INTERCEPT*
7   A male police officer and old friend (5) AMIGO {A}{M}{IG}{O}
8   Design locomotive with electric rotor to begin with (8) ENGINEER {ENGINE}{El...c}{Ro..r}
11 Block second spinner (4) STOP {S}{TOP}
15 Smoke hemp with a magnitude of stress (9) EMPHASIZE {HEMP*}{A}{SIZE}
17 Member cities arranged truce (9) ARMISTICE {ARM}{CITIES*}
18 Rushed back to bed with one essentially effective painkiller (8) NARCOTIC }NAR<=}{COT}{1}{effeCtive}
20 Still one mythical creature (4) YETI {YET}{1}
21 Mark following a close friend to NASA? (7) ACRONYM {A}{CRONY}{M}
22 Cell essentially lacking subatomic particle (6) NEURON NEUtRON
24 A person without intelligence is rejected, becomes reserved (5) ALOOF {A}{LOOF<=}
25 About to split small step (5) TREAD {RE} in {TAD}

GRID