Cryptic crossword No 128

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I've only just started this, but you get a gold star for 17ac!! Made my day.

I have to say, I doubt if this puzzle would be accepted by the Daily Telegraph. But you could always try :-) Nice work Raider - unlike the other commenters I wasn't aware of *that* meaning of 17a - too many euphemisms abound! But most appropriate! Have to mention 23a - surface a bit clumsy, unsurprisingly - but highly ingenious! I get the impression 17a is no respecter of 23a...

I haven’t enjoyed a puzzle so much for ages. Apt solutions at 9a, 11a, 12a, 14a, 15a, 17a, 20a, 22a, 1d, 4d, clues which explicitly take the mickey out of Sajid, Truss, Dick, Cameron and Patel, and virtually all the remainder being rude about the 15 12 in one way or another. Do run it past the Graun…

Thanks Raider, this was great. Quite a feat to get so many themed clues in with excellent surfaces and varied devices. I liked everything but 22d was my favourite for conciseness.

Thanks Raider - there's lots here I enjoyed. Special mention to 9a, 1d, 5d, 13d. I thought the theme contributed to the success of 8a, 11a, 14a, 26a. Well done!

Absolutely love this! It may not be the most sophisticated clue in the world, but I think 10a is my favourite.

I’ve just signed up to this site and this is the first puzzle I’ve tried - right up my street both in terms of difficulty and sentiment. And an impressive number of themed clues. I clued 17A a while ago, along similar lines, but it was rather less subtle and I won’t reproduce it here for fear of being chucked off within an hour of registering! Thanks Raider.

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Magnificent!

Nice puzzle, Tom. Very Private-Eye worthy with some great, greasy surfaces in the mix. Thanks.

Like others, I enjoyed the wordplay and the sentiments embedded in the puzzle. My fave was 4d - very clever indeed! Good read-across 12 & 14, although doesn’t look like happening anytime soon…

Just came to this via a mention in the Platypus puzzle, and it was well worth it. Absolutely excellent. I whacked 23a in assuming it was an anagram and wondering where the indicator was... Too many good clues to mention (even without the added enjoyment of the theme), but as I come from a family of teachers, top marks for 10a and 26a