[3] Standing first as a Conservative at the general election in May 1955, Shaw fought the safe Labour seat of Dewsbury, losing by over 7,000 votes.

[4] At the general election in October 1959, he stood as a 'Liberal and Conservative' [5] and contested the Labour-held marginal constituency of Brighouse and Spenborough.

At the resulting by-election in March 1960, Shaw won the seat for the National Liberals and Conservatives with a majority of 666 votes over Labour's Colin Jackson.

He continued to represent Scarborough until he retired at the 1992 general election, making a total of 30 years as an MP.

In the 1982 Birthday Honours Shaw received a Knighthood,[6] having the accolade conferred by Queen Elizabeth II on 25 November 1982.