The New Statement Podcast is sponsored by Barclays, sparking opportunities in your community.

Through Barclays Life Skills, the bank is helping millions of people develop the vital employability

and financial skills they need to succeed at work, thrive in the digital age and better manage their money.

With a focus on supporting underserved communities, Barclays Life Skills is being delivered in partnership

with leading charities and educators like Family Action, Street League and the Talent Foundry

to support families, young people and young adults to create a better future.

Barclays is sparking opportunities in your community through Barclays Life Skills

to find out more search Barclays communities.

Hi, it's Chris Deren here.

Thanks for joining me for this, the third of the New Statement Podcast to Scottish Elections Specials

We've got a great show coming up and why not take a moment to subscribe, rate and review the podcast.

Here we go.

In this episode, we'll be discussing whether the Scottish parties with their big spending manifestos

can balance the books after May the 6th or if they're all, frankly, at it.

And...

The younger generation haven't had to fight as hard to give the notion of independence credibility

and that perhaps changes our view.

Kate Forbes, SNP Cabinet Secretary for Finance and one of the young stars of the Scottish Independence Movement

joins me later in the podcast.

First, what's been happening this week?

Well, now all the major parties have launched their manifestos.

It's time for the number crunching.

...