Crossword Roundup: Animals with Bad Names

In the sample clues below, the links direct you to the explanations in our series for beginners. The name of the smuggler is often linked to an interview with him, in case you want to know these people better.

The news in clues

Last round horizon, we said goodbye to the TRUSS indices without knowing what could replace them. Since then, the setters have not rushed to include SUNAK. It seems likely that his first name will offer more potential; one of the Telegraph's Tuesday crew once used it...

19a Rishi scratches his head in horror after Tory disaster (6)[ pun: RISHIS without ( "scratch") the first letter of ("head in") HORROR after ("after") abbreviation. for "Conservative" ][ RISIS after C ][ definition: disaster ]

… in the context of CRISIS. Meanwhile, we say "vale" to another of yesterday's people in Paul's clue:

12a Politician still backslidden, foul-smelling noxious air, finally (4-4) [pun : synonym of "always" reversed ("backward-looking") + synonym of "harmful air" + last letter of ("ultimately") NAUSEATING ][ E'ER reversed + SMOG + G ][ definition: politician ]

< p class="dcr- 18sg7f2">When REES-MOGG was a thing, and I couldn't remember whether or not I should cut it, I tended to remember the pen portrait of Matthew Parris…

the serious big don't dress up, so don't be ceremonial and don't hyphen; the Rees-Moggs are just rich Somerset people whose boy never got over a silly phase at Oxford

… but I guess I don't need now. That said, Wiglaf included the 119 days of George CANNING (an 1837 prime minister who died of tuberculosis after just five months in office) in last Tuesday's puzzle, so perhaps TRUSS could make an odd appearance when enough time has passed for it to be fun. .

Latest model

An announcement:

And another, under the puzzle:

Hello, good everyone and thank you for your kind words. Elsewhere, I am Hasslethymi… Why the move to Bartland? No idea! A change is as good as a rest…

Bartland is a very welcome presence in the quiptic stable. I have enjoyed surface readings as evocative as this clue:

16d Chained wild animals eating ants (7) [pun intended: anagram of...