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29A."Bribe-takers associated with Blair-not finished as a PM (10).
????????O?
Many thanks.

Looks like PALMERSTON. To palm is to bribe, then Ton(y). I think it may be flawed, though, as a palmer would be one who gives the bribe, not one who accepts it. I’d prefer bribe-makers

Many thanks..Palmerston is correct.Fits in with 24 down "local".Had me stumped!

14a "Assassin's first approach room?" Have leeway but 9 down I have Oregon."A US state spies for Bush:(6).

Could 9d. be A CA CIA?

9d is ACACIA as mattrom says, 14a is therefore correct as LEEWAY as in first name of Harvey Oswald and "WAY" for approach. took me a while to get that parsing.

Must admit, was going down the US state route with 9d as well for a long time

Thanks everyone...Cyclops always seems to put a couple of clues to confuse me.

Further to #2, does anyone think it’s fine as it is? Am I being too picky?

Chambers has bribery as “the act of giving or taking bribes”. So I could bribe you by demanding money from you or by giving money to you. To me a palmer sounds more like someone receiving the bribe (into their palm as it were) as opposed to giving it.
I was ok with the clue, but I agree it could work either way.