Audley Shaw Confirms Retirement After 31 Years — Successor Race Begins in Manchester North East

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 After over three decades in Parliament and months of speculation, Audley Shaw, the Member of Parliament for Manchester North East, has officially confirmed that he will not be seeking re-election.

“I will not be seeking re-election. I’ve served 31 years. Winston Jones of the PNP had the record before me — he served 25 years. I am now senior to him by six years,” Shaw told Observer Online via WhatsApp on Saturday.

Shaw’s departure marks the end of a political era for the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) in Manchester. He has served since 1993 and holds the distinction of being the longest-serving MP in the parish.

Race for the Seat Begins

With Shaw’s retirement now confirmed, attention has swiftly turned to who will succeed him.

Two names have emerged:

  • Hidran McKulsky, principal of Holmwood Technical High School

  • Omar Miller, Councillor for the Craighead Division and Minority Leader in the Manchester Municipal Corporation

Both men hinted at their political ambitions at the funeral service of former councillor Lerpy "Lizzy" Mitchell on Saturday.

“PM, if you put North East Manchester in the right hands going forward, we will never lose the war,” said Miller, signaling his intent to carry the JLP banner.

McKulsky, speaking shortly after, echoed the sentiment:

“As someone who has the ambition to serve in Government one day… I concur with my friend Councillor Miller that the Prime Minister ought to ensure that the constituency is placed in the right hand.”

A Storied Career

Shaw’s career began with a defeat in 1989 by Calvin Lyn of the PNP, but he would go on to win the seat in 1993 and retain it for over 30 years. Reflecting on his journey last November, Shaw said:

“I lost the first election in 1989. The man who beat me, Calvin Lyn, is an undertaker… he beat me by 189 votes. I said to him, 'You take care of the dead and I take care of the living.’”

During his tenure, Shaw was known for consolidating JLP control of the constituency’s three divisions: Christiana, Walderston, and Craighead.

PNP Eyes Opportunity

The People’s National Party (PNP), led in the constituency by Valenton Wint, sees Shaw’s retirement as a potential opening. Wint, however, has been unsuccessful in his three attempts to win a seat — twice losing to Shaw (2011, 2016) and once to Zavia Mayne in St Ann South Western (2020).

Miller remains the only JLP councillor to retain a seat in the division during the February 2024 Local Government Elections, adding further weight to his potential candidacy.

Our Opinion: A Political Titan Bows Out

Audley Shaw's exit closes one of the longest chapters in modern Jamaican politics. Love him or not, his impact on Manchester North East is undeniable. The question now is not just who will replace him, but whether the JLP can maintain dominance in a seat where the PNP is hungry and hopeful.

Both Miller and McKulsky represent different aspects of the JLP — one rooted in local governance, the other in education and community leadership. What they share is a desire to carry on Shaw’s legacy while making their own mark.

With the general election approaching, Manchester North East may once again become one of the most-watched constituencies in the country.

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