Nicola Willis and Ruth Richardson to clash in high-stakes economic debate
Finance Minister Nicola Willis has challenged former finance minister Ruth Richardson to a public debate on the government’s economic policies. The invitation came as the Taxpayers’ Union, chaired by Richardson, prepared a campaign targeting Willis over fiscal decisions. Richardson initially dismissed the idea but later accepted the challenge after the release of the Half-Year Economic and Fiscal Update.
Willis issued the debate invitation on Tuesday morning, calling for a ‘face to face’ and ‘toe-to-toe’ discussion on the government’s economic approach. She framed the challenge as a direct response to the Taxpayers’ Union’s planned pressure campaign, which Richardson leads.
The debate will focus on the country’s fiscal direction, with Richardson and Willis set to clash over economic priorities. Details of the event remain undisclosed, but the discussion is expected to follow the Half-Year Economic and Fiscal Update. Both sides have signalled a firm stance on financial policy.
