This crossword No. 12571 clues and answers were published on Wed 25 Aug 2010 and the puzzle can be visited by following The Guardian Quick Crossword No. 12571 link.
All Across Clues and Answers:
1-across – Announces officially : PROCLAIMS
8-across – Tug — influence : PULL
9-across – Advantage of one group denied to others : PRIVILEGE
10-across – Lump : CLOT
13-across – Urge : IMPEL
15-across – Connection crossing river etc : BRIDGE
16-across – Firework — salad plant : ROCKET
17-across – Philippine dictator, Ferdinand, ousted 1986 : MARCOS
19-across – Refuge as in middle of road : ISLAND
20-across – Express one’s view : OPINE
21-across – Police spy : NARK
24-across – The least worst political system? : DEMOCRACY
25-across – Hard wood : TEAK
26-across – Fizzy drink : CHAMPAGNE
All Down Clues and Answers:
2-down – Type of ferry : RORO
3-down – Small bay : COVE
4-down – On fire : AFLAME
5-down – Criminal — crocodile : MUGGER
6-down – Coleridge poem about Chinese emperor : KUBLAKHAN
7-down – Trite saying : PLATITUDE
11-down – Dislike deeply : ABOMINATE
12-down – Person in charge of books etc : LIBRARIAN
13-down – Snow house : IGLOO
14-down – Not restrained : LOOSE
18-down – Oration : SPEECH
19-down – Tell : INFORM
22-down – Space : AREA
23-down – Survey — fit in metrically : SCAN
This crossword has in total 28 where 14 are across and 14 are down.