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What a stinker this week. Stuck in bottom left corner. There might help me complete it.
56a Engineer rung by female, number getting cut off (10) ?????E???N
48a Fan mail sorted, prepare for work (6,4) ?????? / F???
34a Protection once linked with Bond, James, perhaps, reportedly (5,4) ??A?? / ?A?L
33d May, perhaps, leaderless EU slam Brexit-supporting party in the ascendent? (2,3,2,3,2) no letters!

Thanks all

STEPHENSON
ANIMAL FARM
CHAINMAIL
ON THE UP AND UP

I FAILED TO PARSE MOST OF IT.

Animal Farm is an anagram of fan mail +arm (prepare)
the rest evades me.

Its been bugging me.

Step hen son(g)

Rung = step (on a ladder)
Female = Hen
Number = Song (cut short = son(g)

The best I could come up with for 34 was
linked = chain (why!!)
james Bond being the 'Male' (Alpha male)
reportedly means sounds like 'Mail'

33 I really have no Idea what planet this clue was written on.

Chainmail was made of metal wire linked together

Bond = chain

On the up and up

Possible parse, using leaderless twice:

May, perhaps, leaderless = (M)ONTH
Leaderless EU = (E)U
slam Brexit-supporting party = PAN DUP