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Sitting on the fence batten is no worse (10)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

abstention

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'sitting on the fence' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I cannot see how they can define each other.

'batten is no worse' is the wordplay.
'worse' is an anagram indicator (I've seen this in other clues).
'batten'+'is'+'no'='battenisno'
'battenisno' is an anagram of 'ABSTENTION'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for abstention that I've seen before include "Refusal to vote" , "Sitting on fence" , "Withholding of vote" , "forbearance" , "endorsing no candidate" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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