David Hencke, Investigative Journalist, Dies at 79

David Hencke died of liver cancer on 27 June 2026 at the age of 79. The Guardian reported that he remained active on a story a week before his death. Hencke joined the newspaper as a reporter in 1976, became its Westminster correspondent, and held that post until 2009 before continuing as an investigative journalist. His career spanned more than three decades at the paper.

The Guardian

Hencke’s reporting on the cash-for-questions scandal earned him the 1994 Reporter of the Year award. The investigation revealed that Conservative MPs Neil Hamilton and Tim Smith had accepted payments for parliamentary questions, prompting both resignations and contributing to the public’s anti-sleaze sentiment that influenced the 1997 general election. The scandal also led to Hamilton’s defeat by independent candidate Martin Bell, who campaigned on an anti-corruption platform. In 1998 Hencke won Scoop of the Year for exposing Peter Mandelson’s secret £373,000 home loan from fellow minister Geoffrey Robinson, which financed Mandelson’s £475,000 Notting Hill purchase and precipitated Mandelson’s first resignation from government.

The Guardian

• 1976 – Joins *The Guardian* as a reporter.

The Guardian

• 1994 – Receives Reporter of the Year for cash-for-questions coverage.

The Guardian

• 1998 – Wins Scoop of the Year for the Mandelson loan revelation.

The Guardian

• 2009 – Ends tenure as Westminster correspondent; continues investigative work.

The Guardian

• 2026 – Passes away from liver cancer at 79.

The Guardian

Hencke’s investigations heightened public awareness of Tory sleaze in the 1990s and directly contributed to the resignation of two ministers and the electoral defeat of a third. His work reinforced the role of investigative journalism in holding power to account and set a benchmark for political reporting in the United Kingdom.

The Guardian

*The Guardian*’s editor-in-chief Katharine Viner described Hencke as a “true Fleet Street legend” whose “enthusiasm and energy” inspired both colleagues and rivals. Fellow journalist Francis Beckett highlighted Hencke’s lifelong passion for uncovering hidden truths and his ability to make powerful figures feel “completely harmless” in his presence. Both statements underscored Hencke’s reputation for tenacity and integrity.

The Guardian

• “The Guardian’s editor-in-chief, Katharine Viner, said: “David Hencke was a true Fleet Street legend.” — Katharine Viner, Editor-in-Chief, *The Guardian*

The Guardian

• “David became the most feared journalist in Westminster because of his acute nose for political scandal and wrongdoing. He worked with an enthusiasm and energy that inspired colleagues and rivals over an impressively long and important career.” — Katharine Viner

The Guardian

• “ Francis Beckett, a distinguished journalist who worked with Hencke on three books, said: “David discovered early in life something he loved doing and was very good at.” — Francis Beckett, Journalist

The Guardian

• “And what he loved was finding things out that rich and powerful people didn’t want us to know, and telling us.” — Francis Beckett

The Guardian

• “He looked and sounded completely harmless. If I had been a politician with a secret and I had looked at David, I can perfectly well imagine I would have confided in him.” — Francis Beckett

The Guardian

The sources provide a consistent account of Hencke’s death, career milestones, and the outcomes of his investigations. No contradictory information or notable gaps were identified.

The Guardian

Colleagues note that Hencke was still pursuing a story weeks before his death, suggesting that unpublished material may emerge posthumously. His investigative techniques and commitment to exposing political misconduct continue to shape training and standards for journalists covering Westminster.

The Guardian