'Now we have a prime minister who appears to put common sense before ideology'

Rishi Sunak setting out his Net Zero pledges
Rishi Sunak setting out his Net Zero pledges - No 10 Downing Street / BEEM/BEEM

In the week that saw proposals for Britain to rejoin the EU as an “associate member” if Sir Keir Starmer should become prime minister, Telegraph readers have been busy debating the biggest topics in the news.

Also hotly discussed this week, Rishi Sunak backtracks on net zero pledges, a number of sexual assault allegations against Russell Brand, and anti-Ulez vigilantes vandalise the scheme’s infrastructure.

Read on for the best of the debate from readers in the comments section, via Letters pages and Front Page newsletter.

Net zero backtrack

Rishi Sunak is facing a growing Tory backlash after watering down his net zero policies, such as loosening the ban on new petrol and diesel cars by 2030.

Readers were supportive of the Prime Minister’s rethink on eco pledges, and hoped he would be able to face off the Opposition, which has promised to reinstate the measures.

Russell Brand allegations

Russell Brand has been accused of rape and sexual assaults by women who spoke out on alleged attacks between 2006 and 2013.

Many readers believe Russell Brand to be a victim of a witch hunt, and until proven otherwise, view him as innocent. However, others suggested that the YouTube star’s behaviour up until now has not painted a favourable picture of his character.

Anti-Ulez protests

As anti-Ulez vigilantes – nicknamed the “Blade Runners” – stepped up their campaign by vandalising the cameras used to identify non-compliant cars, the majority of readers took to the comments to express their broad support for protesting against an expensive restriction on freedom of movement.

What are your thoughts on the hot topics of the week? Tell us in the comments section below