The Spectator 2512

[Matakari]

Good morning,
I’m happy to have got all the answers to the riddles and the characters involved. I’m now left with a few clues to complete this one. Your help would be much appreciated. Many thanks in advance!
26 (A) Livingstone’s pet |requested something (3) : ASK ( A hint from a previous thread…)
25 ( D ) Coral possibly cycling with Guy Burgess (7) : ?R?EMAN
37 (D) Auntie gathering minimal buttercups (4) : ?DEB

[scorpiojo]

25 Free (ref, coral) man (guy)

[bobbinwales]

freeman? reef anagram?

[scorpiojo]

26 Ask (newt - Ken Livingstone's pet)

[bobbinwales]

ken Livingston had a pet newt, an ask is a newt I recall?

[scorpiojo]

* reef, not ref

[bobbinwales]

Beeb?

[bobbinwales]

Wheres your D from in 37?

[aelmpvw]

ask is a scottish term for a water newt

[Matakari]

Thanks, all! Bobbinwales, the D is in my 40 (A) which must be wrong.
40 Accurately adjusting German article in basket (7):
?G??ING (GRADING )

[Neveracrossword]

40 Trueing - Trug, basket, with Ein inside.

[JJ109]

Trueing (ein in trug)?

[bobbinwales]

Trueing looks good, altho its a made up word for me.
Can't see a case for Grading in cryptic clue at all apart perhaps for G for German

[Matakari]

Many thanks, NACW, that's it!

[dannyk13]

37 Beeb (auntie) bee(gathering) + b(uttercups)

[Neveracrossword]

Bobbinwales, True, to adjust acccurately, is in Chambers.

Matakari, glad you have (eventually) got to the end!

[bobbinwales]

In nearly 60 years have never heard anyone say' truing' but if its in the dictionary that's fine.
Yes, Bee as in sewing beee/spelling bee,