Is there a way out of Iran crisis without conflict? Plus the school scandal putting kids on route to violent crime.

As thousands gathered in Iran for the funeral of General Qasem Soleimani, The Leader podcast speaks to the former chair of the UK’s Foreign Affairs Committee, Tom Tugenhadt, and ask if there’s a way out of the crisis without conflict.

UK drug crime and knife violence:

Over last six months, The Evening Standard has been examining the damage caused by permanently excluding pupils from school. Our reporting shows a 70 percent surge in the numbers over the last 8 years, and reveals how that figure is connected to young boys ending up in prison, and knife crime increases in London. The Evening Standard’s Investigations Editor, David Cohen, joins The Leader podcast to discuss his findings.

Golden Globes:

Ricky Gervais shocked Hollywood again with his Golden Globe gags, but the Evening Standard’s Phoebe Luckhurst tells the Leader podcast it was the UK’s acting talent that really stole the show.

TRANSCRIPT:

David Marsland

Thanks for listening to The Leader of the Evening Standard's daily news podcast bringing you the best of our analysis and commentary. Please like, subscribe, share and comment, wherever you get your podcast from. From the Evening Standard in London. This is The Leader.

Hi, I'm David Marsland. Huge crowds have filled the streets of Tahran as Iran mourns the death of general Qasem Soleimani and Donald Trump is doubling down on his threats. Is there a way out of this crisis without conflict?

Tom Tugenhadt

This can either get much worse which nobody wants or this can be a pivot point. This can be a moment when the relationship can change.

David Marsland

The former chair of the UK is Foreign Affairs Committee, Tom Tugenhadt has written for the Standard and speaks to The Leader about the options for the Middle East, also

David Cohen

12 year olds, who I mean that's an extraordinary young age to be sent to a school where basically you're like in a day release prison

David Marsland

Our investigations editor David Cohen on his special report showing how England's system for dealing with disruptive school pupils is pushing many into crime. And

Phoebe Luckhurst

He had a had a pot shot at quite a few people in that kind of opening seven minutes, many of whom were sat in in the audience grimacing.

David Marsland

Rivky Gervais shocked Hollywood with his golden globes gags but our deputy features editor Phoebe Luckhurst says it was the UK acting talent that really stole the show..

Taken from the Evening Standard editorial column this is The Leader for the whole thing pick up the newspaper or head to standard.co.uk/comment in a moment when next for the Middle East?

With thousands listening in the streets of Tehran and millions said to be watching around Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khomeini wept over the coffin of General Qasem Soleimani .

He led the prayers for the man around considers a hero for the US denounced as a terrorist and killed in a targeted strike in Baghdad. The move is threatening to destabilize the Middle East. But writing in the Standard today, the former chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Tom Tugenhadt, says ridding the world of a source of violence could mark a turning point Mr Tugenhadt joins me now, and is...

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