Crossword Genius

Getting mates in party at end of day — is money overcoming resistance? (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

cronyism

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'getting mates in' is the definition.
(practice of getting one's friends in for a job)

'party at end of day is money overcoming resistance?' is the wordplay.
'party at' becomes 'con' (I can't justify this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'end of' says to take the final letters.
'money' becomes 'm' (abbreviation in economics).
'overcoming' is an insertion indicator.
'resistance?' becomes 'r' (abbreviation).
The last letter of 'day' is 'y'.
'con'+'y'+'is'+'m'='conyism'
'conyism' enclosing 'r' is 'CRONYISM'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for cronyism that I've seen before include "The appointing of personal friends to jobs" , "Favouritism shown to friends and associates" , "Dubious appointments" , "old boy network" , "Appointment of friends to jobs, regardless of qualifications" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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