Crossword Genius

Conservative, gutless Tory, hosts Posh and Berks? (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

county

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'berks?' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this defines the answer.

'conservative gutless tory hosts posh' is the wordplay.
'conservative' becomes 'con' (abbreviation for Conservative).
'gutless' means to remove the middle letters.
'hosts' means one lot of letters goes inside another (inserted letters are welcomed or hosted).
'posh' becomes 'u' (abbreviation for upper-class - opposite to non-U).
'tory' with its middle taken out is 'ty'.
'con'+'ty'='conty'
'conty' going around 'u' is 'COUNTY'.

'and' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for county that I've seen before include "Territorial division" , "Administrative division" , "Down for one" , "Administrative district within a state" , "Like some cricket" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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