6  Female student admitting first hint of interest in metal oxide (7)

 7  Myself, perhaps, and French in German gathering (7)

 9  Height of achievement of bird with start of nesting (5)

10 Cooked the garlic in state of sluggishness (9)

11 Select from list English politician, a north eastern Liberal (7)

13 Metal flying machine losing height (6)

15 Charitable secret orders; sadly aim of sneerers (13)

19 US Suffragette lady author's at heart really draconic embattling (6)

20 Plead for contents of written treaties (7)

23 Unusually inelegant species of wild rose (9)

24 The French money, old and new, for fruit (5)

26 Mythical thing; a carriage drawn by three horses (7)

27 Not specific knowledge on historic blood fine (7)

 2  Idiot in Perth is turning up to record arrival at work (4,2)

 3  Diagrammatic representation, limits of line and page for national symbol (5-4)

 4  Be left-winger and argue to absurd lengths (8)

 5  Heavy artillery of persistent attack on chessboard man? (5,5)

 6  Bent chief newspaper man (6)

 7  Tiny arachnid's strength, so we hear (4)

 8  Attempt to carry child's home-made vehicle (2-4)

12 Kinky rustic poll produces this protection for castle entrance (10)

14 Beginnings of strict or very exacting rule for monarch (9)

16 Deplorably exerts no muscle (8)

17 Highlanders' way with a posh cake (6)

18 About nations putting sense essentially into set of principles (6)

21 Natural ability in story supported by part of Bible (6)

22 Fierce animal's raised combed fibre (4)

25 Take note of apostle (4)