Across:
8 Criminal (CON-) with stiff upper lip, for starters (‘stiff upper lip’ for starters = -SUL), (CONSUL) doesn’t lack diplomacy? (CONSUL),
9 To start off (INITIATE), one (I-) fool (-NIT-) got single (-I-) and wolfed it down (-ATE) (INITIATE),
10 A single time (ONCE) in prison cells (in ‘prison cells’ = ONCE),
11 Security (COLLATERAL) firm (CO-), after a while (-LATER-) in American city (-L-A-), gets on top of the legislation (on top of the ‘legislation’ = -L) (COLLATERAL),
12 10K (-RUN-) in Belgium (B-E-) is one (-I) (BRUNEI) for Malaysian neighbour (BRUNEI),
14 Lawyer (senior counsel = SC-) finds hot (-H-), new (-N-) programs (program applications = -APPS) (SCHNAPPS) available at The Bar (SCHNAPPS),
15 Frank (STRAIGHT) meets Bud (SHOOT-) Ward (-ER) (STRAIGHT SHOOTER) in New York – he’s an honest broker (in US, STRAIGHT SHOOTER is to be trusted),
18 Reflects (= reversal indicator) music (rap = PAR-) that’s nasty (-ME-AN) about lead singer (lead ‘singer’ = -S-) (PARMESAN) produced by a hard, cheesy type (PARMESAN),
20 Coal miner cuts ice (‘coal miner’ cuts ‘ice’ = oalmnr = NORMAL) as usual (NORMAL),
22 The Messenger’s (EMISSARIES) first email (first ‘email’ = E-) address (-MISS-) could be a sign (-ARIES) (EMISSARIES),
24 Local belt (HOOK) taken by boxer perhaps (HOOK),
25 Verified (ATTESTED to) new (= anagram indicator) date (date = AT-ED) around one of the exams (-TEST-) (ATTESTED),
26 Psychological (MENTAL) eccentric (= anagram indicator) lament (lament = MENTAL).
Down:
1 Run to ground (CORNER) in Ring? (CORNER in boxing ring),
2 Foolish (= anagram indicator) lies (lies = ISLE) spotted by those on board (ISLE),
3 Putting her feet up (SLACKING), Carol (S-ING) admitted shortage (-LACK-) (SLACKING),
4 Pickup illegal bit (‘pickup illegal’ bit = PILL) from Tablet (PILL),
5 Hardy (Hardy = R-YADH) novel (= anagram indicator) about Irish (-I-) (RIYADH) in Asian capital (RIYADH),
6 One sees pictures (CINEMAGOER) of Genoa crime (Genoa crime = CINEMAGOER) organisation (= anagram indicator),
7 Spike ate (Spike ate = STEAK PIE) stew (= anagram indicator) made with meat and veg and covered with pastry (STEAK PIE),
13 In bed with the missus (“near missus” = “NEAR MISSES”) says (= homophone indicator) a lot about close shaves (NEAR MISSES),
14 Agony aunt’s missing young (‘agony aunts’ missing ‘young’ = aants = SATAN) man downstairs (SATAN),
16 One of eleven (TEAMMATE) English (-E-), American (-A-) and French men (Messieurs = -MM-) in foreign museum (Tate = T-ATE) (TEAMMATE),
17 Attractive (HANDSOME) demon has (demon has = HANDSOME) treatment (= anagram indicator),
19 Sailor (-TAR-) has time (time = -T-) in boat (S-S) (STARTS) for the new jobs (STARTS),
21 A (A-) woman (-NORA-) gets cocktail (‘cock’ tail = -K) (ANORAK) that’ll keep her warm on a cold night (ANORAK),
23 Local paper (INDO) from Dublin downsizing (from ‘Dublin downsizing’ = INDO),
24 Let it be known indirectly (HINT) there are no wagons in Washington (no ‘wagons’ in ‘Washington’ = hint = HINT).