Across:
8 Hot (STOLEN) items from auction (lots = STOL-) returned (= reversal indicator) by workers (men) heading off (m) (“men” without “m” = -EN) (STOLEN),
9 Observed by knights (CHIVALRY) of church (CH-) and unholy (= anagram indicator) rival (rival = -IVALR-) at journey’s end (end of “journey” = -Y) (CHIVALRY),
10 Raises (= reversal indicator) flower (flower/river Po = OP-) from America (-US) (OPUS) – it’s an important piece of work (OPUS),
11 Stood up (ROSE) for Casement (Casement WINDOW) (ROSE WINDOW) in the church in memory of Saint Catherine of Alexandria (ROSE WINDOW),
12 Opens the Merlot aged (opens “the Merlot aged” = -TMA-) in Prohibition (BA-N) (BATMAN) serving someone on campaign trail perhaps (personal assistant to officer during earlier wars = BATMAN),
14 Brewed (= anagram indicator) a bitter (a bitter = BIRETTA-) stout initially (“stout” initially = -S) (BIRETTAS) for the minister wearing his various hats perhaps (BIRETTAS),
15 In Europe (BRUSSELS), Proust’s (Proust’s = SPROUTS) novel (= anagram indicator)
(BRUSSELS SPROUTS) cultivated around the plot (BRUSSELS SPROUTS),
18 Spokesman (ADVOCATE) for champion (champion/support = ADVOCATE),
20 Published (ISSUED) by son (son = ISSUE-) and daughter (-D) (ISSUED),
22 Genesis (BIRTH-) doesn’t appeal to the left (-RIGHT) (BIRTHRIGHT) – and that’s a particular class thing (BIRTHRIGHT),
24 Permits (LETS) bank’s legal investments (banks “legal investments” = LETS),
25 Bluffing it (FEINTING) by passing out (“fainting” = “FEINTING”) reports (= homophone indicator),
26 Identifying (NAMING) leading man dismissing deal (“leading man” dismissing “deal” = ingman = NAMING).
Down:
1 Turns up (= reversal indicator), one (-I-) going to pot (pot = -TOP-) in Australia (AU = U-A) (UTOPIA) paradise (UTOPIA),
2 In addition (PLUS), clears up without care (“clears up” without “care” = lsup = PLUS),
3 Break a law (INFRINGE) up (= reversal indicator) north (NI = IN-) on the border (-FRINGE) (INFRINGE),
4 Feels sore (aches) losing heart (losing heart/middle letter = h) (“aches” without “h” =ACES) with the experts (ACES),
5 Lookout (VIEW-) has a hesitant word (-ER) (VIEWER) with inspector (VIEWER),
6 Actors in an (actors in an = CARNATIONS) adaptation (= anagram indicator) of The Wedding Flower (CARNATIONS),
7 Haughty (ARROGANT) answer (A-) to diatribe (-R-ANT) about capital’s rate of growth (capitals/first letters of “rate of growth” = -ROG-) (ARROGANT),
13 Most of (s) the address (“miss” without “s” = MIS-) by Lady Luck (-FORTUNE) (MISFORTUNE) in Hard Times perhaps (MISFORTUNE),
14 Roughly stitch up (tack material with loose stitches = BASTE) graduate (BA-) joining The Branch (stem) shortly (m) (“stem” without “m” = -STE) (BASTE),
16 Rides new (rides new = RED WINES) storm (= anagram indicator) in Bordeaux port? (Bordeaux and Port = RED WINES),
17 Is Pinter (is Pinter = PRISTINE) play (= anagram indicator) unused? (PRISTINE),
19 Intimidated (AFRAID) by a (A-) loud (forte = -F-) break-in (-RAID) (AFRAID),
21 Spin out (EXTEND) part in next Endeavour (part in “next Endeavour” = EXTEND),
23 Graphologist’s removing polo shirt (“graphologists” removing “polo shirt” = gags = GAGS) is a laughing stock perhaps (GAGS),
24 One of The Greens (LIME green) in Muslim establishment (in “Muslim establishment” = LIME).