intransitive verb. To cooperate secretly in an illegal or wrongful action; collude.

intransitive verb. To scheme; plot.

intransitive verb. To feign ignorance of or fail to take measures against a wrong, thus implying tacit encouragement or consent.

In biology, to be connivent.

To wink.

Hence To wink, or refrain from looking, in a figurative sense, as at a culpable person or act; give aid or encouragement by silence or forbearance; conceal knowledge of a fault or wrong: followed by at (formerly sometimes with on).

To be in secret complicity; have a furtive or clandestine understanding: followed by with: as, to connive with one in a wrongful act.

To waive objection; act as if satisfied; acquiesce: used absolutely.

To tamper: followed by with.

To shut one's eyes to; wink at; tacitly permit.

transitive verb. To shut the eyes to; to overlook; to pretend not to see.

intransitive verb. To open and close the eyes rapidly; to wink.

intransitive verb. To close the eyes upon a fault; to wink (at); to fail or forbear by intention to discover an act; to permit a proceeding, as if not aware of it; -- usually followed by at.

verb. to cooperate with others secretly in order to commit a crime; to collude

verb. to plot or scheme

verb. to pretend to be ignorant of something in order to escape blame

verb. to be a wench

verb. encourage or assent to illegally or criminally

verb. form intrigues (for) in an underhand manner

"Not sure what you mean by 'connive' as we have not been in government when these decisions were taken."