Guardian Genius 240 By Picaroon( The Final Hurdle )

[Matakari]

Good morning, back to the “Genius”, a real addiction, can’t put it down now that
my grid is filling up neatly. I seem to have miraculously stumbled the right “way” .
Hints for the final set of clues should confirm this. Thanks in advance!

ACROSS

●12 Bishop possibly free to go around holy building
●15 Most vulgar fan of Labour PM uncovered stealing French art ( 8 )
( Follower/defender/advocate- not the right synonym? )

DOWN:
●3 Spot starter in Italy, which may be this ( 9 )
● 4 Counterparts rejected concession on work
●6 They demand money in a day, holding monarch up
●8 Reversal of the present time's custom
●9 Scot's elder brother, extremely urbane, dropping Henry off BOURTREE
●10 Community of Jews left Hebrew letters around : SHTETEL

[JJ109]

12 a 3 letter word for a bisho on a chessboard, followed by a 3 letter word for "to free" =
15 As a follower of Margaret Thatcher would be a "thatcherite" a follower of Tony Blair would be a ????
remove the first and last letters and lace around "ES"
3 only has 4 letters. A 3 letter word for a sot on your face followed by the usual abbreviation for Italian

9 & 10 are correct

[JJ109]

4 = 5 letters - definition is counterparts. 2 letter abbreviation for a work, plus a 3 letter word for a "concession" reversed
6. 6 letters definition is"they demand money", a three letter word for a king(Latin) reversed in a 3letter abreviation for a weekend day also reversed
9 4 letters definition is custom, 3 letter word for the present and reversed = abbreviation for time

[JJ109]

^^ +abbreviation of time

[JJ109]

12...followed by a three letter word for "to free" reversed. Definition is Holy Building

[Matakari]

Merci beaucoup, jj109! Perfect parsing that helped me to fill the grid with ease. It was an intriguing, mental exercise that was worth it. Thanks to you, NACW, ProfessorMaisie et al... Now, on to CheeseCracker's Spectator offering. Hope this one is as gentle as those of the past weeks!