Crossword roundup: Tory party pickles and how would you clue chicken kyiv?

Downing Street socials, robots and Ukrainian influences feature in our look at the best of the broadsheets’ cryptic clues

In the sample clues below, the links take you to explainers from our beginners series. The setter’s name often links to an interview with him or her, in case you feel like getting to know these people better.

7d List what fibbers do endlessly, one such as Boris (9)
[ wordplay: word meaning “what fibbers do” minus last letter (“endlessly”) + what Boris is example of ]
[ INVENT – T + TORY ]
[ definition: list (as a noun) ]

1a Tory leader gets over quandary reported in the news (7)
[ wordplay: first letter (“leader”) of TORY + cricket abbreviation for “over” + soundalike (“reported”) of word meaning “quandary” ]
[ T + O + soundalike of PICKLE ]
[ definition: in the news ]

18d Remarkably, Conservative initially isn’t attending latest party (6)
[ wordplay: synonym for “remarkably” + abbreviation for “Conservative” + first letters of (“initially”) ISN’T ATTENDING LATEST ]
[ SO + C + IAL ]
[ definition: party ]

19d Doctor is enthralled by fish in Arctic feature (6)
[ wordplay: abbreviation for “doctor” inside (“enthralled by”) name of a fish ]
[ DR in TUNA ]
[ definition: feature of Arctic environment ]

‘First of all, what’s important?’
Spencer, Allsop: ‘Interior, interior, interior! And flowers on the outside walls.’

12a Craft of, say, steel pan player finally accepted (9)
[ wordplay: what steel is an example of (“steel, say”) + type of WOK with last letter of (“finally”) PLAYER inserted (“accepted”) ]
[ METAL + WOK containing R ]
[ definition: craft ]

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