4  Topic for discussion is the middle east (5)

 7  Smoke pipe without energy – it’ll make you feverish (3)

 9  Offensive cackle, say, being covered in messy snot (9)

10 Patriarch is about to welcome alcoholics (5)

11 Start to cheer in accordance with 1a (6)

12 Brand has trouble accepting upstart Israelite (6)

15 Had sat in the southeast to get protection from the sun (5)

17 Healthy 1 of 5 embraces Republican clown (9)

18 U-boats end up going from Swindon to Reading, say (9)

20 Made dice from copper layer (5)

21 Heartless Spengler captured this green 1a (6)

22 Film tense dipsomaniac (6)

26 Angry buccaneer beheaded (5)

27 Cockney’s clue for ‘dog’ (6,3)

28 Farm animal found in tree, it’s said (3)

29 Government agent’s crap in Slovakia (5)

30 Out of practice stalwart’s heading off (5)

 1  County council at first urges hoteliers to get organised (15)

 2  90s band’s disc unchanged (5)

 3  Swingers get high on this (7)

 4  Cato, Gaius seen in this? The opposite (4)

 5  Chow backpedals, half cut (4)

 6  English copper, crudely – one writer of crap fanfic? (7)

 7  Light for one shooting showy onion (9)

 8  1a 4a? (9,6)

13 Spirit of Yorkshire port, reportedly (5)

14 George the First did sudokus at first – they’re in these (5)

16 Take the rest of the season to arrange a tea set – about four (9)

19 They make beers with copper last and whirlpool first (7)

20 Room for a dictionary, if more than one? (7)

23 Props vulgar expression of disaffection with Britain up (5)

24 Capital invested in Barbados lottery (4)

25 Corner a number in a satisfactory condition (4)