7  Firm holding stock essentially in reserve (5)

 8  Bigot has 'black' changed to new expression that sounds like another (9)

10 Pill regularly taken before fever - a serious one (6)

11 A rabbit's foot, possibly the result of taxidermist finally having animals butchered (8)

12 Completed examination of the countryside (8)

13 Tide turns for Casanova (4)

15 Power tool absorbs last bit of oil smear (7)

17 Variable routine adopted by goatish fellow (7)

20 Stationer, haberdasher or pharmacy, primarily (4)

22 Soldier wearing coat, and Scotsman portrayed in David Copperfield for instance? (8)

25 Reduce charge about to be introduced by gallery (8)

26 Being prosecuted or released? (6)

27 Not charged to be a member of Equity, perhaps (9)

28 Go ahead and take snuff (5)

 2  Seaside resort beginning to be trendy (8)

 3  Aggressive landlord, one with beer lacking head (7)

 4  Is one chasing fellow, or running wild? (8)

 5  Screw which a carpenter may use (6)

 6  As beer might be recorded, for the most part (2,3)

 9  Bring up bird in conversation (4)

14 Clay moulded with paste shows rigidity (9)

16 Part of pressure MP has is stress (8)

18 Might it stock up with hard crackers? (8)

19 Closure of shop amid sad demise of hampers (7)

21 Party of women associated with new area of London (6)

23 Most of gunge is horrible (4)

24 Scorn being fey? (5)