2405: Satanic

Doc writes: welcome to Smurf as our third new compiler joining our team.
 
One unclued light, the heart of which is of essence, is linked with eight other unclued lights, verifiable in Brewer. Two further unclued lights are appositely characteristic. One other light is abbreviated. Ignore an apostrophe.
 

Across

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Katy Balls

The real significance of Reform’s membership milestone

4    No can do? (11, two words)
11    A new city in Italy, southern state capital (9)
12    Soldiers resentful, not half, in revolution (5)
15    Old bus company transporting Irma from America (3, initials)
18    In a stealthy way, enticing to Grand Central (7)
22    Excessively short skirt is picked up (6, two words)
23    Vagueness thus always shown to what it’s usually attached to? (6, two words)
24    Girl set off from refurbished Sheraton (5)
31    Mount’s area traversed by island cleric (6)
34    Seafood which could be heart-warming (7)
35    Bank, for example, protecting a long-distance swimmer (7)
38    Further, earlier, starts are needed for any long statements (3)
39    ‘Even so’ I added, ‘its existence is unproven’ (4)
40    Seriously funny remark (11, two words)
41    Be outstanding at bugle-playing (5)
42    Deigning to put in carbon backing-sheet (9)
43    Third Oscar’s arranged for anti-scrumpers (11)
 

Down

2    Area covered in European journey (5)
5    After work, beer brought round in glass (7)
6    New Yorker using decoy to get fish (6)
8    Shape of a dead bird, would you say? (7)
9    Enough space for better ventilation, reportedly (4)
10    Just keeps going when credit’s newly denied (9, two words)
15    Leaders of aggressive gang go round organising violence (5)
20    Reputation one would never expect of a real stinker! (9, two words)
21    Early night for the early bird? (3)
25    Husband backed cunning wife’s emotional outbursts (5)
26    One exercises, showing fitness (3)
28    Lie Alan spread about border town (7, two words)
30    In the end, double back and get a round...