Crossword Genius

Conservative chap's into S&M, creating division (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

schism

'division' is the definition.
(I know that schism is a type of division)

'conservative chap's into sm' is the wordplay.
'conservative' becomes 'C' (UK political abbreviation).
'chap's' becomes 'His' (belonging to a man).
'into' is an insertion indicator.
'c'+'his'='chis'
'chis' inserted into 'sm' is 'SCHISM'.

'creating' is the link.

(Other definitions for schism that I've seen before include "Church disunity" , "Ecclesiastical breakdown" , "Formal split in a religion" , "Split (usually in church)" , "Split based on opposing beliefs" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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