Crossword Genius

Have some flexibility about hosting Liberal club (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

bludgeon

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'club' is the definition.
(both can mean a heavy weapon)

'have some flexibility about hosting liberal' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite understand how this works, but
'about' could be 'on' (as in a book 'on' a certain topic) and 'on' is found in the answer.
'liberal' could be 'l' (abbreviation) and 'l' is present in the answer.
The remaining letters 'budge' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't see.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for bludgeon that I've seen before include "Strike with a club" , "Club used as a weapon" , "Beat repeatedly with a heavy object" , "Blunt instrument" , "Short stick with thickened end as weapon" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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