Kevin Hague
@kevverage.bsky.social
Investor/chair of a couple of Scottish businesses; chair of constitutional think tank These Islands; keen analyst of Scotland’s economic data (particularly “GERS” #fml); occasional political commentator; runner, hill walker & dog lover - views own, obv
Pinned
Kevin Hague
@kevverage.bsky.social
· Aug 12
A quick thread on today’s #GERS figures
1. Scotland’s GERS deficit continues to be much greater than the EU’s 3% excessive deficit threshold
1. Scotland’s GERS deficit continues to be much greater than the EU’s 3% excessive deficit threshold
the GERS deficit doesn’t matter
[link follows]
[link follows]
August 22, 2026 at 5:27 PM
the GERS deficit doesn’t matter
[link follows]
[link follows]
Reposted by Kevin Hague
there’s a fundamental issue that always gets missed in the annual GERS debate:
the GERS deficit doesn’t matter
the latest chokkablog - which i’m sure won’t upset anybody - explains why👇
chokkablog.com/blog/gers-de...
the GERS deficit doesn’t matter
the latest chokkablog - which i’m sure won’t upset anybody - explains why👇
chokkablog.com/blog/gers-de...
Why the GERS deficit doesn't matter | chokkablog
Every year there's a big stramash when the Government Expenditure and Revenue Scotland (GERS) figures are released. I am more guilty than most of wading…
chokkablog.com
August 21, 2026 at 2:51 PM
there’s a fundamental issue that always gets missed in the annual GERS debate:
the GERS deficit doesn’t matter
the latest chokkablog - which i’m sure won’t upset anybody - explains why👇
chokkablog.com/blog/gers-de...
the GERS deficit doesn’t matter
the latest chokkablog - which i’m sure won’t upset anybody - explains why👇
chokkablog.com/blog/gers-de...
why is the EU’s 1.5% deficit target and 3% excessive deficit limit relevant to the Scottish independence debate?
because if you want to join the club, you have to play by the rules
new blog 👉 chokkablog.com/blog/fiscal-...
because if you want to join the club, you have to play by the rules
new blog 👉 chokkablog.com/blog/fiscal-...
August 21, 2026 at 7:49 PM
why is the EU’s 1.5% deficit target and 3% excessive deficit limit relevant to the Scottish independence debate?
because if you want to join the club, you have to play by the rules
new blog 👉 chokkablog.com/blog/fiscal-...
because if you want to join the club, you have to play by the rules
new blog 👉 chokkablog.com/blog/fiscal-...
there’s a fundamental issue that always gets missed in the annual GERS debate:
the GERS deficit doesn’t matter
the latest chokkablog - which i’m sure won’t upset anybody - explains why👇
chokkablog.com/blog/gers-de...
the GERS deficit doesn’t matter
the latest chokkablog - which i’m sure won’t upset anybody - explains why👇
chokkablog.com/blog/gers-de...
Why the GERS deficit doesn't matter | chokkablog
Every year there's a big stramash when the Government Expenditure and Revenue Scotland (GERS) figures are released. I am more guilty than most of wading…
chokkablog.com
August 21, 2026 at 2:51 PM
there’s a fundamental issue that always gets missed in the annual GERS debate:
the GERS deficit doesn’t matter
the latest chokkablog - which i’m sure won’t upset anybody - explains why👇
chokkablog.com/blog/gers-de...
the GERS deficit doesn’t matter
the latest chokkablog - which i’m sure won’t upset anybody - explains why👇
chokkablog.com/blog/gers-de...
Reposted by Kevin Hague
did the Fraser of Allander institute really say the Scottish Government’s GERS figures are irrelevant to the independence debate?
the answer’s here 👉 chokkablog.com/blog/fraser-...
the answer’s here 👉 chokkablog.com/blog/fraser-...
Did Fraser of Allander say to ignore the GERS figures? | chokkablog
It happens every year and it's all rather tedious - but this is the first of a series of blogs I will write debunking myths or false narratives currently…
chokkablog.com
August 19, 2026 at 5:40 PM
did the Fraser of Allander institute really say the Scottish Government’s GERS figures are irrelevant to the independence debate?
the answer’s here 👉 chokkablog.com/blog/fraser-...
the answer’s here 👉 chokkablog.com/blog/fraser-...
did the Fraser of Allander institute really say the Scottish Government’s GERS figures are irrelevant to the independence debate?
the answer’s here 👉 chokkablog.com/blog/fraser-...
the answer’s here 👉 chokkablog.com/blog/fraser-...
Did Fraser of Allander say to ignore the GERS figures? | chokkablog
It happens every year and it's all rather tedious - but this is the first of a series of blogs I will write debunking myths or false narratives currently…
chokkablog.com
August 19, 2026 at 5:40 PM
did the Fraser of Allander institute really say the Scottish Government’s GERS figures are irrelevant to the independence debate?
the answer’s here 👉 chokkablog.com/blog/fraser-...
the answer’s here 👉 chokkablog.com/blog/fraser-...
Reposted by Kevin Hague
fwiw think this is an important summary of the GERS debate - i encourage people to share and invite comments below this “insight” on gers-explorer.com - whether you agree or disagree, i’m keen to hear your views
gers-explorer.com/insights/wha...
gers-explorer.com/insights/wha...
August 14, 2026 at 5:00 PM
fwiw think this is an important summary of the GERS debate - i encourage people to share and invite comments below this “insight” on gers-explorer.com - whether you agree or disagree, i’m keen to hear your views
gers-explorer.com/insights/wha...
gers-explorer.com/insights/wha...
fwiw think this is an important summary of the GERS debate - i encourage people to share and invite comments below this “insight” on gers-explorer.com - whether you agree or disagree, i’m keen to hear your views
gers-explorer.com/insights/wha...
gers-explorer.com/insights/wha...
August 14, 2026 at 5:00 PM
fwiw think this is an important summary of the GERS debate - i encourage people to share and invite comments below this “insight” on gers-explorer.com - whether you agree or disagree, i’m keen to hear your views
gers-explorer.com/insights/wha...
gers-explorer.com/insights/wha...
A quick thread on today’s #GERS figures
1. Scotland’s GERS deficit continues to be much greater than the EU’s 3% excessive deficit threshold
1. Scotland’s GERS deficit continues to be much greater than the EU’s 3% excessive deficit threshold
August 12, 2026 at 3:21 PM
A quick thread on today’s #GERS figures
1. Scotland’s GERS deficit continues to be much greater than the EU’s 3% excessive deficit threshold
1. Scotland’s GERS deficit continues to be much greater than the EU’s 3% excessive deficit threshold
Reposted by Kevin Hague
Andy Burnham begins his premiership with a net approval rating of +16, a 20-point rise in his approval since previous Opinium poll, when he was PM-elect in mid-July
🌹 Burnham +16
🔶 Davey +1
🌳 Badenoch +1
🌍 Polanski -20
➡️ Farage -24
🌹 Burnham +16
🔶 Davey +1
🌳 Badenoch +1
🌍 Polanski -20
➡️ Farage -24
August 1, 2026 at 8:17 PM
Andy Burnham begins his premiership with a net approval rating of +16, a 20-point rise in his approval since previous Opinium poll, when he was PM-elect in mid-July
🌹 Burnham +16
🔶 Davey +1
🌳 Badenoch +1
🌍 Polanski -20
➡️ Farage -24
🌹 Burnham +16
🔶 Davey +1
🌳 Badenoch +1
🌍 Polanski -20
➡️ Farage -24
Reposted by Kevin Hague
2014 to 2019 summed up nicely ;) @kevverage.bsky.social
July 27, 2026 at 6:46 PM
2014 to 2019 summed up nicely ;) @kevverage.bsky.social
Reposted by Kevin Hague
i bet she tells people she doesn’t ski
February 16, 2026 at 9:11 PM
i bet she tells people she doesn’t ski
i bet she tells people she doesn’t ski
February 16, 2026 at 9:11 PM
i bet she tells people she doesn’t ski
Reposted by Kevin Hague
The Norwegian Nobel Prize committee has been forced to make a statement, declaring that the prize cannot be transferred.
It's hard even to comprehend how stupid this has become
It's hard even to comprehend how stupid this has become
January 10, 2026 at 9:15 AM
The Norwegian Nobel Prize committee has been forced to make a statement, declaring that the prize cannot be transferred.
It's hard even to comprehend how stupid this has become
It's hard even to comprehend how stupid this has become
Reposted by Kevin Hague
He remains, to this day, the first and only songwriter to have voluntarily renounced his songwriting royalties for a charity record and forced his publisher to accept it. He could have made millions from that song. They went to the actual charity instead.
December 23, 2025 at 4:39 PM
He remains, to this day, the first and only songwriter to have voluntarily renounced his songwriting royalties for a charity record and forced his publisher to accept it. He could have made millions from that song. They went to the actual charity instead.
this (as with so much else Philippe writes) is a thread very much worth reading
A propos of nothing, it's taken as a given that Bob Geldof should be made fun of and that his Band Aid Christmas song is not just a maddening tune, but also a prime example of the White Saviour syndrome. I'd just like to add something to this take, which I've only learnt about very recently.
December 24, 2025 at 2:25 PM
this (as with so much else Philippe writes) is a thread very much worth reading
Reposted by Kevin Hague
The "don't have an extra kid if you can't afford it" brigade get awfully upset when you suggest they don't stay in their £2m house if they can't afford it, don't they?
November 27, 2025 at 6:09 PM
The "don't have an extra kid if you can't afford it" brigade get awfully upset when you suggest they don't stay in their £2m house if they can't afford it, don't they?
Reposted by Kevin Hague
Today's 70% fall in net migration to 205,000 was not one of the six stories in BBC ten o'clock news.
Ta massive assymetry in whether rises in immigration and falls in immigration are considered newsworthy by broadcasters
Down by 140k isn't thought to be.
Up by 140k undoubtedly would be.
Ta massive assymetry in whether rises in immigration and falls in immigration are considered newsworthy by broadcasters
Down by 140k isn't thought to be.
Up by 140k undoubtedly would be.
November 27, 2025 at 10:05 PM
Today's 70% fall in net migration to 205,000 was not one of the six stories in BBC ten o'clock news.
Ta massive assymetry in whether rises in immigration and falls in immigration are considered newsworthy by broadcasters
Down by 140k isn't thought to be.
Up by 140k undoubtedly would be.
Ta massive assymetry in whether rises in immigration and falls in immigration are considered newsworthy by broadcasters
Down by 140k isn't thought to be.
Up by 140k undoubtedly would be.
Reposted by Kevin Hague
Quite the correction by the Telegraph. The publication in question is @freemovement.bsky.social
November 21, 2025 at 5:27 PM
Quite the correction by the Telegraph. The publication in question is @freemovement.bsky.social
so proud of the progress Highland Broadband has made - now fully funded to address the “digital divide” experienced in large parts of the Scottish Highlands
www.linkedin.com/posts/highla...
www.linkedin.com/posts/highla...
Watch as Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes MSP unveils £50m private and public investment in Highland Broadband, Scotland’s full fibre broadband builder.
We were delighted to be joined earlier this…...
Watch as Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes MSP unveils £50m private and public investment in Highland Broadband, Scotland’s full fibre broadband builder.
We were delighted to be joined earlier this ...
www.linkedin.com
November 14, 2025 at 3:07 PM
so proud of the progress Highland Broadband has made - now fully funded to address the “digital divide” experienced in large parts of the Scottish Highlands
www.linkedin.com/posts/highla...
www.linkedin.com/posts/highla...
Reposted by Kevin Hague
OK this is amazing.
Trump’s Truth Social has its own AI search tool, which company debuted a month after Trump signed an exec order to end use of “Woke AI” in federal government.
Here's how it responds to questions about tariffs, who won 2020 election, Jan 6, etc:
www.thebulwark.com/p/pardon-the...
Trump’s Truth Social has its own AI search tool, which company debuted a month after Trump signed an exec order to end use of “Woke AI” in federal government.
Here's how it responds to questions about tariffs, who won 2020 election, Jan 6, etc:
www.thebulwark.com/p/pardon-the...
November 11, 2025 at 3:24 PM
OK this is amazing.
Trump’s Truth Social has its own AI search tool, which company debuted a month after Trump signed an exec order to end use of “Woke AI” in federal government.
Here's how it responds to questions about tariffs, who won 2020 election, Jan 6, etc:
www.thebulwark.com/p/pardon-the...
Trump’s Truth Social has its own AI search tool, which company debuted a month after Trump signed an exec order to end use of “Woke AI” in federal government.
Here's how it responds to questions about tariffs, who won 2020 election, Jan 6, etc:
www.thebulwark.com/p/pardon-the...
Reposted by Kevin Hague
Love being reminded to do this every year. It's a win/win all round
November 11, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Love being reminded to do this every year. It's a win/win all round
Reposted by Kevin Hague
Maybe Keir should demand the heads of major US news networks any time they imply Britain is on the brink of civil war or that we live under sharia law. Or does it not work both ways?
November 10, 2025 at 11:29 AM
Maybe Keir should demand the heads of major US news networks any time they imply Britain is on the brink of civil war or that we live under sharia law. Or does it not work both ways?
was a decent evening to be returning to Edinburgh
November 9, 2025 at 10:17 PM
was a decent evening to be returning to Edinburgh
Reposted by Kevin Hague
Did someone say beveragino?
November 7, 2025 at 5:09 PM
Did someone say beveragino?