Private Eye 754

[ripvanwinkle]

I am stuck on two and am doubting one:

For 6 across I have caliph - this could be wrong.
Can't get - 1 down - About to break doddery old president (twice): it's the law, jokingly (2,4)
I have 'L' as the second letter in the second word.

I am also stuck on 12 across. Pootle as Cyclops would, leading 'The Mexican U-turn' (4). I have 'E' as the final letter.
Thank you in advance for any help.

[Neveracrossword]

1 PC Plod

[Neveracrossword]

1 D- Two Ps, president, twice, old _ C, about, anagrammed.

[Neveracrossword]

12 Idle, pootle, I'd +EL, Mexican Spanish 'the, reversed , U-turn,so Le.

[ripvanwinkle]

Thank you for your very clear explanations to the solutions. Sometimes I just can't see it - then it's obvious when explained,

[Neveracrossword]

Glad I could help. I thought it was quite a tough puzzle, but got it finished.

PS Caliph, old leader, is correct, Phil, I, one and C right of Conservative), anagrammed, outrageously.

[Neveracrossword]

Rip...I realised earlier, when Caliph came up again, that I'd parsed it wrongly. It's Phil, C(onservative) and a, one, anagrammed.Sorry!