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Sian Williams and a panel of guests discuss whether we should negotiate with ISIS, and Vicky Beeching talks to Sir Ian McKellen about gay rights, God and Gandalf.

Should we negotiate with ISIS?
The picture of a drowned boy who washed up on a Turkish beach on Wednesday has sparked an international outcry. Three-year-old Aylan, who drowned along with his five-year-old brother Galip, has resulted in European leaders asking if more can be done. More refugees continue to flee battle-torn Syria, with ISIS waging war on many fronts across the nation.

Making a stable home for Syrians so they do not have to flee seems beyond reach, but can it be done by negotiating with ISIS? Many think it's a barbarous group beyond negotiation, and that trying to open dialogue with them would be futile and fly in the face of public opinion. But does history show us that governments do eventually talk to their enemies? Is it time to talk to ISIS? We also hear from Harry, who left his job as a currency trader in London to take up arms with the Kurds in the fight against ISIS in Syria. Now back in Britain, he tells Sunday Morning Live what motivated him to go and whether talking to them would change anything. Joining Sian Williams on the panel are retired British army officer Major General Tim Cross, associate editor with the Daily Mirror Kevin Maguire, historian and author Dr Amanda Foreman and managing director of the Quilliam Foundation, a counter extremist organisation, Haras Rafiq.

Also on the programme:
From Macbeth to Magneto in X-Men, and from Hamlet to Sherlock Holmes, Sir Ian McKellen has become one of Britain's most famous actors. He chooses to use his fame to promote gay rights around the globe, and a week ago he was made grand marshal of Manchester Pride. Vicky Beeching speaks to him about gay rights, God and Gandalf.

Do you have to buy a good education?
As a new school year begins, the government has unveiled plans for more free schools in its bid to improve state education. Critics say it's not enough, and statistics show that poorer children are being let down by failing schools. A recent survey claims one in four families would move house to get their children into better schools. Meanwhile, more children are being enrolled in private education than ever before as parents pay to avoid state schools. How proud should we be of Britain's top private schools which draw pupils from across the world? And does their success mean a good education is only open to the rich? Tommy Sandhu also visits the university town of Oxford to find out what the people there think of buying an education.

Should Catholicism relax its view on abortion?
Pope Francis has decreed that Catholic women who've had abortions can be pardoned by their priests during 'a year of mercy' beginning later this year. Is the move simply a compassionate gesture towards Catholic women who may regret abortions in later life or an affront in the wider battle for women's reproductive freedom in the world beyond the Vatican? Does the idea that abortions as acts which need to be 'forgiven' stigmatise women and offend wider British society where terminations have been legal for decades? Or is the Pope's declaration a sign that the Catholic Church is changing its tone on social issues? The panel is joined by Elizabeth Howard from the Catholic Voices group.

1 hour

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Sian Williams
Executive Producer Kuljinder Khaila
Producer Marie Irvine
Assistant Producer Stephen McVey
Assistant Producer Cathy McMorrow
Production Coordinator Caoimhe Cassidy
Reporter Tommy Sandhu
Interviewer Vicky Beeching
Interviewed Guest Ian McKellen
Panellist Tim Cross
Panellist Kevin Maguire
Panellist Haras Rafiq
Panellist Amanda Foreman
Panellist Elizabeth Howard

Broadcast

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