Claim by Raich

Puzzle explanation

The digits of 1992 had to be used in place of corresponding letters in the entries for 11 bar(one)ss, 15 (nine)pins, 18 (Nine)tte, 21 ne(two)rk, revealing the theme as the 1992 ELECTION in the UK. The Conservative Party, led by John MAJOR, won the election though the Labour Party under Neil KINNOCK had been strongly fancied to win, right up to polling. The “claim” was the headline “It’s The Sun Wot Won It”, which appeared in The Sun newspaper two days later (included in later editions of the Oxford Dictionary of Quotations).

Clue explanations

Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal

No Answer Explanation [extra letter]
Across
3 EX ANTE (A + N[I]T) in EXE
7 AMUSER US in (A + MER)
11 BARONESS BESS around (A + R + ON)
13 ABAS A + BA[T] + S
15 NINEPINS SNIPE < after INN *
16 GAIA G + A[S] + I’ + A
17 DOS (Bar)DO[T] S(ay)
18 NINETTE IN < + NETTE(d)
20 MESMER ESME in MR
21 NETWORK OWNER * around T + (tal)K
23 AMBAN [H]AM + BAN
24 ENDEAR E + NEAR around D
26 ASH A + SH
28 JOUR JOUL[E] with R for L
29 GAELDOM (OLD GAME) *
31 COHO CO + HO
33 ORNE [S]ORE around N
35 HALBERD BLAH < + E + RD
36 ATOC AT + OC
37 TEE (s)TEE(r)
38 WEIRDO DO after WEIR
40 TIGER T[U]I + GER
42 NITRE LITRE with N for first letter
44 SENIOR ROI < after SEN
45 SANG 2 meanings
47 E’ER S[N]EER − S
48 ECCO (s)OCCE(r) <
49 OUTDO (U + TD) in OO
51 NAIF FAN < around I
52 EAR-CAP (end)EAR + CAP
53 THRILL TILL around HR
54 FEALTY LEFTY * around A
Down
1 ABEDNEGO ABED + N + EGO
2 EAMONN (MAN ONE) *
3 ERASE SE[W] after ERA
4 ASP A + S[O]P
5 TONE ARM (TOM COLLINS − COLLINS) around NEAR
6 EASTMAN FEAST − F + MAN
7 A-BOMB MOB < in [T]AB
8 MAKE A HOLE IN (LIKE A [W]OMAN HE) *
9 SHAMPOOER (OAR + MOP + H[O]SE) *
10 ROARER (OAR + E) in R(ocheste)R
12 SIT THIS < − H
14 NIEBUHR (BURN I[N] HELL − LL) *
19 TRADITIONAL (OLD AIR ANTI [I]T) *
22 KRONE K + R + ONE
25 DENOUNCER DEN + (b)OUNCER
27 SPAWN S + PAWN
30 ART DECO REDCOAT *
32 ODOGRAPH [T]O-DO + (RAP in GH)
34 KEEP OFF KEEP OFF indicates KEEP * = PEKE
35 HIRSUTE AMATEURISH * − (A + MA)
36 ABSENT AB + SENT
39 DEEPAK PEED < + (o)AK(s)
41 GRAIL G(ermans) + RAIL
43 RECCY REC + CY
46 ATE (g)ATE(au)
50 DAL (i)D(e)A(l)L(y)
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