Conservative in place in splinter group (4)
I believe the answer is:
sect
'splinter group' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'conservative in place' is the wordplay.
'conservative' becomes 'C' (UK political abbreviation).
'in' is an insertion indicator.
'place' becomes 'set' (synonyms).
'c' going into 'set' is 'SECT'.
'in' is the link.
(Other definitions for sect that I've seen before include "Dissenting division of a larger religious group" , "Subdivision of a larger religious group" , "Religious splinter group" , "Body of followers" , "Nonconformist faction" .)