On this day in 1931 the politician George Younger (Viscount Younger of Leckie) was born.

Under Margaret Thatcher Younger served as Secretary of State for Scotland from 1979 to1986. He was then appointed as Secretary of State for Defence following Michael Heseltine's resignation over the Westland affair. Later, Younger became Chairman of The Royal Bank of Scotland. He died in January 2003 aged 71 after a battle with cancer.

On this day in 1990 Alex Salmond defeated Margaret Ewing by 486 votes to 186 to become National Convenor of the Scottish National Party. Born in Linlithgow in 1954, Salmond joined the SNP in 1973, entering the House of Commons in 1987 as member of Parliament for Banff and Buchan. After becoming SNP leader in 1990, he stayed in the post for 10 years. Salmond is credited with improving the credibility of the SNP by projecting a moderate image and presenting the party as a realistic alternative to the Labour Party.

He supported the Labour Government's proposals for devolution, viewing it as a stepping stone to full independence.

Today's recipe: a seafood special with meaty monkfish and mussels.