Across:
8 Some desperado ran German (some ‘desperado ran German’ = ORANGE) order (ORANGE order),
9 Acceptable behaviour (PROTOCOL) of dance (= anagram indicator) troop (troop = PROTO-) and company (-CO-) by law (-L) (PROTOCOL),
10 Source of regret (PITY) in pulpit? Yes! (in ‘pulpit Yes’ = PITY),
11 Top-secret (RESTRICTED) authoritarian type (-STRICT-) caught in long grass (RE-ED) (RESTRICTED),
12 Left (L-) sweetheart (‘sweet’ heart = -E-) with malaria (-AGUE) (LEAGUE) in lodge (LEAGUE),
14 Takes advantage of (CASHES IN) money (CASH-) and ecstasy (-E-) and deadly type of 2 down, for instance (deadly type of ‘envy’ = deadly sin = -S IN) (CASHES IN),
15 Similar to 11 across, sign (PRIVATE PROPERTY sign is similar to ‘restricted’), of fighting in the conflict (army PRIVATE) on estate (PROPERTY) (PRIVATE PROPERTY),
18 Is (-IS-) on Right (-R-) in political party (Democratic Unionist Party = D-UP-) with no leader (i) – its (‘its’ without ‘i’ = -TS) (DISRUPTS) causes? Chaos! (causes chaos DISRUPTS),
20 Vast numbers (LEGION) on both sides of legal profession (on both sides of ‘legal profession’ = LEGION),
22 French neighbour (GERMAN) takes flag (flag/pick out = MARK) (GERMAN MARK) from old European capital (old European capital/money = GERMAN MARK),
24 “Shorting” (d) the Pound? (pound/beat = ‘grind’ without ‘d’ = GRIN) That will bring a smile to one’s face! (GRIN),
25 Drugs (-EE-) in prison (prison = PION-RS) changed (= anagram indicator) (PIONEERS) those who don’t take a drink (PIONEERS),
26 Odd (= anagram indicator) things (things = NIGHTS) seen during dark periods (NIGHTS).
Down:
1 Commend (PRAISE) soft (soft/piano = P-) approach by gambler (-RAISE) (PRAISE),
2 Have one’s heart set on (ENVY) responsively releasing spoilers (“responsively” releasing “spoilers” = envy = ENVY),
3 Frenchman (M-) retires (retires = -ERRIEST) drunk (= anagram indicator) (MERRIEST) and it’s the jolliest time! (MERRIEST),
4 No hotel in South Pole (no ‘hotel’ in ‘South Pole’ = supo = OPUS) that’s a major work of art (OPUS),
5 Woos (COURTS) Simon away from consortiums (‘Simon’ away from ‘consortiums’ = cortus = COURTS),
6 Hunted illegally (POACHED) in part of Mayo (EGG in mayo/mayonnaise) (POACHED EGG) for the breakfast and is definitely in hot water (POACHED EGG),
7 Rare (NOVEL-) award at university (First = 1ST = -IST) (NOVELIST) for Joyce (NOVELIST),
13 Control (GOVERN-) the number of workers (-MEN-) initially threatened (initially ‘threatened’ = -T) (GOVERNMENT) by somebody in administration? (some body in administration = GOVERNMENT),
14 Manages (COPES) to find these in the sacristy for the priests (religious cloaks = COPES),
16 Checked (REINED IN) with a German (a = -EINE-) in research and development (R&D = R-D) that it’s on trend (IN) (REINED IN),
17 Keeps the rust away (OIL-) from family (-KIN-) in boat (-S-S) (OILSKINS) with gear that’s waterproof (OILSKINS),
19 Philanderers have no relish (‘Philanderers’ have no ‘relish’ = pander = PANDER) to play to the crowd (PANDER),
21 New (= anagram indicator) patio (patio = OPIAT-) on front entrance (front ‘entrance’ = -E) (OPIATE) has a relaxing quality when taken in (OPIATE),
23 Apostle dismisses Lot (‘Apostle’ dismisses ‘Lot’ = apse = APSE) and section of The Church (APSE),
24 Bookings (GIGS) for the players? (GIGS).