Across:
8 Tried (HAD A GO) to halt first (‘Halt’ first = H-) bill (-AD-) by government lawyer (Attorney General = -A G-) and it came to nothing (-O) (HAD A GO),
9 In a manner of speaking, Barney (EXCHANGE) produced One Direction (East = E-), Kiss (-X-) and Cash (-CHANGE) (EXCHANGE),
10 Feel (feel) bad (= anagram indicator) (feel = FLEE) for Split local (split ‘local’ = FLEE),
11 Ponder time (ponder time) out (= anagram indicator) (ponder time = REDEMPTION) making a recovery (REDEMPTION),
12 Split’s (splits = CRACKS) cold (C-) spaces for laying down wine (-RACKS) (CRACKS),
14 Punnet is (punnet) used (= anagram indicator) (punnet is = PINE NUTS) for making pesto (PINE NUTS),
15 Gives the time of day when someone was late (FORENSIC SCIENCE / time of death) with DNA research (FORENSIC SCIENCE),
18 They object vocally to some stand-up characters (HECKLERS) producing heroin (H-) and ecstasy = -E-) found in clerk’s (clerks = -ECKL-RS) hash (= anagram indicator) (HECKLERS),
20 Provide cover for (ASSURE) foolish type (ASS-) heading off (c) to smoke (‘cure’ without ‘c’ = -URE) (ASSURE),
22 Makes a deposit at the bank, for instance? (BLOOD DONOR) A (A type = BLOOD) philanthropist! (DONOR) (BLOOD DONOR),
24 Pile (pile/heap = MASS) of characters stuffed into melodrama’s storylines (characters in ‘melodraMAS Storylines’ = MASS),
25 Found down on the beach (S-AND-) hosting old (-O-) May Day appeal (mayday = -SOS) (SO-AND-SOS) for unnamed people with bad reputations (SO-AND-SOS),
26 Girl (ANNA-) left (-L-) school (-S) (ANNALS) with historical records (ANNALS),
Down:
1 One of those in Records Dept (file) loses the head (f) (‘file’ without ‘f’ = -ILE-), consumed by local drink (jar = JA-R) (JAILER), and is given a job in the prison! (JAILER),
2 Some series actors (some ‘seriES ACtors’ = esac) turn up (= reversal indicator) (esac = CASE) in a courtroom drama (CASE),
3 Poor (= anagram indicator) stouts (stouts = TOU-STS) found over border (rim) mostly (m) (‘rim’ without ‘m’ = -RI-) (TOURISTS) for the holidaymakers (TOURISTS),
4 Kept in quarantine (HELD) containing head cold (containing ‘HEad coLD’ = HELD),
5 It’s said at mass meeting (said at Mass meeting = Amen = A-MEN) about copper (-CU-) (ACUMEN) with common sense (ACUMEN),
6 Ban (ban = BAR-) offers (-TENDERS) (BARTENDERS) from those taking orders in the service industry? (BARTENDERS),
7 Lacks faith (AGNOSTIC), as head barman (Attorney General = AG-) is not (-NO-T-) around? Pole (South Pole = -S-) is in charge! (In Charge = -IC) (AGNOSTIC),
13 Make sure that’s not fake news (CHECK POINT) coming from station on the border (CHECKPOINT),
14 Stole from stockpiles (‘stole’ from ‘stockpiles’ = ckpis = PICKS) with a number of tools (PICKS),
16 Miss (OVERLOOK) Ring (O-) and Victor (-V-) Ward (-ER-) checkout? (-LOOK) (OVERLOOK),
17 Two types of drugs (C+H = CH-) for high-flyer (-AIRMAN) (CHAIRMAN) on the board (CHAIRMAN),
19 Church leader (elder) curtailed (r) (‘elder’ without ‘r’ = ELDE-) by Saint (-ST) (ELDEST) Adam (ELDEST),
21 In conclusion (RESULT), boss (= anagram indicator) rules (rules = RESUL-) roost at foundation (‘roosT’ at foundation = -T) (RESULT),
23 Raised (= reversal indicator) in Scots-English (in ‘scoTS-ENglish’ = tsen = NEST) breeding ground (NEST),
24 Part of the problem in trusting (part of the ‘probleM IN Trusting’ = MINT) one of those making their own dough (MINT making dough/money).