2: The man with lack of skill shows cruelty (13)
8: German painter in a southern state (5)
9: To make matters worse, Georgia left before Virginia, slipping into a series of heavy metal bars (9)
10: A returned high ball is hard to do away with (7)
11: Classical musician composing her opus (7)
12: First confession left the listener feeling no doubt (5)
13: Beg like this - it's lawful (7)
16: Rejections concern enthusiasts (7)
19: Britannia - she never has blanched (5)
21: Contrarily leave closet for result (7)
23: Recipe including bull's heart is first class (7)
24: Something lacking in brief season (9)
25: Unfortunately now it is divided (2, 3)
26: Something good made by dwarf barber, perhaps! (6,7)