Dave King

Posted: June 6, 2026

THE death has been announced of Dave King, long-serving Daily Record industrial and political correspondent. His funeral is on Wednesday, June 10 at Bishopbriggs Crematorium, 0141 674 3737

For more than 30 years, Dave reported  historic events and changes in the Scottish scene, and earned a reputation for fairness and authority.

He received his training in Dundee and, after a short spell in Wolverhampton, returned to Scotland with the Daily Record, becoming industrial reporter. A trade unionist himself, he quickly gained a reputation for his reporting of the Scottish industrial scene at a time of disputes and turmoil. One of his many scoops was the first news of the closure of the Ravenscraig steel plant, with all  its implications for jobs and the Scottish economy.

Dave became a member of the press corps covering the Scottish Parliament from its very beginning. Senior politicians of all parties have commented on his unbiased reporting and their feeling that they could trust him, even when he did not agree with their political positions.

A number of prominent media figures, with whom he worked early in their careers, say Dave became their mentor, advising them and helping with contacts. His contacts book was legendary, with the private numbers of union leaders, MPs, MSPs and ministers in the Scottish and UK governments. Beyond his prowess as a journalist, the many tributes have emphasised his qualities as a colleague, friend and family man.