The Sunday Crossword No 3005, Sunday 22 Jul 2018

On the tougher side today.

ACROSS
1   Snake by water's margins covered with dark seaweed (12) BLADDERWRACK {BL{ADDER}{WateR}ACK} Thanks to Google

9   Give answer, then pull back (5) AWARD {A}{DRAW<=}
10 Alertness from soldier joining unruly clan in struggle (9) VIGILANCE {VI{GI}{CLAN*}E}
11 Made calm declaration initially during sitting (7) SEDATED {SE{De...n}ATED}
12 Note duck around river, towards the side (7) LATERAL {LA}{TE{R}AL}
13 Agreement about fashion in urban area (10) CONFORMITY {C{ON}{FORM}ITY}
15 Worry constantly occupying outlaw anguished in retreat (4) GNAW [T<=]
17 Tense, given instruction in hearing (4) TAUT (~taught)
18 Speaks about church with love, and former time as pupil (10) SCHOOLDAYS {S{CH}{O}{OLD}AYS}
21 Carry on with revolutionary bet (7) WAGERED {WAGE}{RED}
22 Support, led by bishop with hesitation, becoming more uneven (7) BUMPIER {B}{UM}{PIER}
23 Skilled workers around farm sent all over the place (9) CRAFTSMEN {C}{FARM+SENT}*
24 New pub, unknown quantity for buffoon (5) NINNY {N}{INN}{Y}
25 Obtain competent conclusion from pro enthralled by obscure plant extract (9,3) VEGETABLE OIL {GET}{ABLE}{prO} in {VEIL}

DOWN
1   Novel began a trend, holding food up as symbol of Berlin (11,4) BRANDENBURG GATE {GRUB<=} in {BEGAN+A+TREND}*

2   Extra commercial issue, not first (8) ADDITION {AD}{eDITION}
3   Psalmist showing depth, devoted (5) DAVID {D}{AVID}
4   Leave, in anger, dry old opera (9) RIGOLETTO {RI{GO}LE}{TT}{O}
5   Run over story, coming up with electronic link (6) RELATE {R}{TALE<=}{E}
6   Antagonistic business of country holding leading position (15) CONFRONTATIONAL {CO}{N{FRONT}ATIONAL}
7   Strike northward, dry for long distance (6) PARSEC {RAP<=}{SEC}
8   Elf distracted sad man (6) FELLOW {ELF*}{LOW}
14 Parrot mostly perched on barrier, one above a tree (9) MACADAMIA {MACAw}{DAM}{1}{A}

16 Sweetheart and sergeant possibly dance (8) FLAMENCO {FLAME}{NCO}

17 Change course, taking in hot western belt (6) THWACK {T{H}{W}ACK}
19 Scatters branches bearing flowers (6) SPRAYS [DD]
20 Legal document with explosive twist (6) WRITHE {WRIT}{HE}
22 Exclude a line lacking originality (5) BANAL {BAN}{A}{L}

GRID