No 13090, Wednesday 11 Nov 2020, Dr. X

Solution to 11A has been deliberately left unsolved and is to be answered only by a non-regular / novice commenter, with proper annotation. Those who have answered earlier in the week, please give others a chance. 

ACROSS

1   Degenerate picked up escort in retro party (2,2,4) GO TO SEED {GOT}{O{SEE}D<=}

5   Unionist involved in vice? Refuse to respond (4,2) CLAM UP {CLAM{U}P}

10 Religious group protecting most prudish offender (7) CULPRIT {CUL{PRIg}T}

11 Messenger smuggling dope for leader of insurgents is more stupid (7) C?A?S?R (Addendum - CRASSER {CR(-i+ass)ASSER} - See comments) 

12 Arbitrary execution of nationalist in Polish city (5) RADOM RAnDOM

13 Say sorry when logo is misprinted in copy (9) APOLOGISE {LOGO+IS}* in {APE} 

14 Lacking adequate hands, he starts off playing diamonds (5-7) SHORT-STAFFED {HE+STARTS+OFF}*{D}

18 Clear up hot argument with lover primarily in sack tonight (5,5,2) THROW LIGHT ON {H}{ROW}{Lo..r} in {TONIGHT}*

21 Easy to cry on retirement — this should brighten things up (5,4) LIGHT BULB {LIGHT}{BLUB<=}

23 Taking permission day before stir (5) EVOKE {EV{OK}E}

24 Couple of associates tackling organised crime in country (7) AMERICA {A}{CRIME*}{A}

25 Genial expert outlining revolutionary plan (7) AMIABLE {A{AIM<=}BLE}

26 Tense boy escapes from bullies and jerks (6) TOSSES {T}{bOSSES}

27 India’s problem — endless unemployment (8) IDLENESS {I}{ENDLESS}*

DOWN

1   Turning gearwheel with skill in kid’s vehicle (2-4) GO-CART {COG<=}{ART}

2   Rebellious bunch on ecstasy at rave-up in Spanish city (6) TOLEDO {LOT<=}{E}{DO}

3   Terrible crash! Swim for sailor’s craft (9) SCRIMSHAW*

4   Really thrashing a curt liar found outside a joint (5-9) EXTRA-ARTICULAR {EXTRA}{A+CURT+LIAR}*

6   Part of knoll, an open plain in South America (5) LLANO [T]

7   Dogs fight in block (8) MASTIFFS {MAS{TIFF}S}

8   Indicates wine is over (8) PORTENDS {PORT}{ENDS}

9   How Anand and Carlsen compete is affecting everyone (6-3-5) ACROSS-THE-BOARD [DD]

15 Repent meeting maiden in liaison previously (2,3,4) AT ONE TIME {ATONE}{TI{M}E}

16 Stout gangster approaches women aboard launch (8) STALWART {ST{AL}{W}ART}

17 Minister finally backing move in campaign for development (8) PROGRESS {P{m...eR}{GO<=}RESS}

19 Leading batsman’s in good nick (6) NOBBLE {NOB{Ba...n}LE}

20 Engineers getting tax break (6) RECESS {RE}{CESS}

22 Banal start to traditional ceremony (5) TRITE {Tr...l}{RITE}

Reference List

Party = DO, Unionist = U, Nationalist = N, Diamonds = D, Hot = H, Associate = A, Tense = T, Boy = B, India = I, Ecstasy = E, Rave-up = DO, Maiden = M, Gangster = AL, Women = W,  Engineers = RE(Royal Engineers)