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I thought today's Everyman much improved. Some clues really very clever and fun (15 D and 12A particularly). Pray hope the trend continues.

Zenith...and Coffindodger, I'm not a regular solver of Everyman puzzles, but I'm delighted to hear that it seems to be returning to form. It was only a few weeks ago that I saw, on the Forum, some truly awful clues. You deserve better!

I think both parsings for 15d do work....but the more I consider it, the less likely it seems that Michael Gove's name would be used?
I know that the Everyman has been somewhat 'adrift' these past few weeks (so who knows?) but it is generally "crossword policy" that names of individual living people are not used as answers (or clue content).
That certainly is the case for The Times...it may well be so for The Guardian/ Observer.

Elle, it's the V I didn't really like in your alternative parsing. I know you put V, vote, referendum. The clue has 'start of referendum', which seems to indicate the R? If the V is used, the 'start of' serves no purpose.

I know the Times crosswords don't feature individual living people, but I'm not sure if that applies to other paper - Cher featured in the 'i' crossword yesterday.

It is the start of " v " for "vote " = referendum.....
I think that is acceptable
It has happened before in crossword clues., so there is a precedent.

But I am not overly concerned which parse was intended by the compiler...…..I saw both as possibilities anyway.

Good, Elle, I'm glad you're not overly concerned. You're more likely to know what is acceptable in Everyman, as it's a puzzle I didn't look at until recently.

I have tried to make v (vote) work, but the
clue states that the brexiteer and his loss goes ''before'" the start of referendum' which indicates that the 'r' comes at the end.
The v comes within, not at the end

Thanks, Cerasus - that parsing sounds spot on!

No, it actually doesn't say that , Cerasus….....
It says "admitting defeat = loss before the start of vote/ referendum"...which it does...…
But enough…...

Just doesn't work, but enough , as you say