Crossword Genius

Conservative getting rougher and rougher (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

cruder

'rougher' is the definition.
('crude' can be similar in meaning to 'rough')

'conservative getting rougher' is the wordplay.
'conservative' becomes 'c' (abbreviation commonly used in UK politics).
'getting' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'rougher' becomes 'ruder' ('rude' can be similar in meaning to 'rough').
'c'+'ruder'='CRUDER'

'and' is the link.

(Other definitions for cruder that I've seen before include "Less refined, more vulgar" , "Less refined, more primitive" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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