Crossword Genius

Ultra-conservatives in iron ships (10)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

hardliners

'ultra-conservatives' is the definition.
(hardliner can mean a very conservative person)

'iron ships' is the wordplay.
'iron' becomes 'hard' (iron can mean very hard).
'ships' becomes 'liners' (liner is a kind of ship).
'hard'+'liners'='HARDLINERS'

'in' acts as a link.

(Another definition for hardliners that I've seen is " Uncompromising types".)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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