Across:
8 Questionable (= anagram indicator) space (space = ESCAP-) for sweetheart (‘swEet’ heart = -E) (ESCAPE) to get free (ESCAPE),
9 Needles partner (PINS and needles = P-INS) over perfect (perfect = -HONE-) (PHONE-INS) programmes that encourage the airing of opinions (PHONE-INS),
10 Stable (SURE) sides of supporting structure (sides of ‘SUpporting structuRE’ = SURE),
11 Brief (c) garage worker (mechanic) (‘mechanic’ without ‘c’ = MECHANI-) on message (-SMS) (MECHANISMS) with procedures (MECHANISMS),
12 State (NEVADA) winds up (= reverse indicator) second Camp (second ‘cAmp’ = -A) David (Dave = -EVAD-) with new beginning (‘New’ beginning = N-) (NEVADA),
14 Made it (made it = MEDITA-) up (= anagram indicator) for Lawrence (-TE Lawrence) (MEDITATE) to muse (MEDITATE),
15 Daydreaming (ESCAPE MECHANISM) of 8 across (‘escape’ = ESCAPE) and most of (s) 11 across (‘mechanisms’ without ‘s’ = MECHANISM) (ESCAPE MECHANISM),
18 Keep an eye (MIND-) on Takeaway (-LESS) (MINDLESS) for Dopey (MINDLESS),
20 Capote (capote) novel (= anagram indicator) (capote = TOECAP) sold in some Boots? (TOECAP)
22 Depressed (DOWN) by that man (-HE-) in awful (= anagram indicator) tale (tale = AT -EL) (DOWN AT HEEL) having seen better days (DOWN AT HEEL),
24 Both sides working like a charm (both sides ‘WOrking like a chaRM’ = WORM) and the birds love it (WORM),
25 Feeder (WET NURSE) to university (-U-) in western (western = WET N-RSE) complex (= anagram indicator) (WET NURSE),
26 One of those who is no stranger to chaos (son of Chaos = EREBUS) in the personification of darkness (EREBUS).
Down:
1 Give one’s word (ASSURE) to answer (A-) Old Bob (old bob = shilling = -S-) – satisfied? (-SURE) (ASSURE),
2 Is backed (= reverse indicator) in horse racing (in ‘horsE RACing’ = erac = CARE) with caution (CARE),
3 Buddy (-MATE) is behind (= position indicator) band (TEAM-) (TEAMMATE) – the one who regularly plays with others (TEAMMATE),
4 A lot missing from poetical (‘a lot’ missing from ‘poetical’ = peic = EPIC) sweeping story (EPIC),
5 Chicken (COWARD) and fish (CO-D) wrap a concern for a major employer? (-WAR-) (COWARD),
6 Lack of enthusiasm (RESISTANCE) for The Underground perhaps (RESISTANCE),
7 Encourages (ANIMATES) beasty type (animal) not finished (l) (‘animal’ without ‘l’ = ANIMA-) with set (set) up (= reverse indicator) (set = -TES) (ANIMATES),
13 Head barman (Attorney General = A-G) outside Cork town (-BANDON-) with leaders is not (leaders ‘Is Not’ = -IN-) (ABANDONING) leaving (ABANDONING),
14 There’s no air in Emirates (there’s no ‘air’ in ‘Emirates’ = emtes = MEETS) for track events (MEETS),
16 Go downhill fast (SKI-) with a man with a van (mover = -M OVER) (SKIM OVER) from study without losing time (SKIM OVER),
17 Has a job in the hospitality industry (HOTELIER) producing The Loire (the Loire = HOTELIER) tour (= anagram indicator),
19 Gains access (ENTERS) for resident with no ID (‘resident’ with no ‘ID’ = resent = ENTERS),
21 First class (AI-) run (-R-) by colt (-GUN) (AIRGUN) – the one going off like a shot (AIR GUN),
23 Drain (sewer) head off (s) (sewer’ without ‘s’ = EWER) jug of beer perhaps (EWER).
24 Lament (WEEP) from half of One Direction (half of ‘WEst’ = WE-) on record (Extended Play record = -EP) (WEEP).