Sentence:  Seeing the British establishment struggle with the financial sector is like watching an alcoholic [...].  Until 2008 there was denial over what finance had become. When a series of bank failures made this impossible, there was widespread anger, <WSD>leading</WSD> to the public humiliation of symbolic figures. 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  To draw or direct by influence, whether good or bad; to prevail on; to induce; to entice; to allure