Michael Norman Shaw was born in Leeds on 9 October 1920. Educated at Sedbergh School he joined the Indian Army on the outbreak of war, but contracted Tuberculosis on the voyage out. Discharged from the Army he joined his family firm as a chartered accountant. He married Joan Mowat in 1951.
Shaw became involved with his local Conservative Association. In 1959 he fought the election for Brighouse and Spenborough on behalf of the Conservatives, but lost by a small margin. Shaw won the seat the following year in a by-election after his rival suddenly died, but lost it again in 1964. In 1966 he became MP for Scarborough and Whitby and in 1974 he was elected to the new constituency of Scarborough, which he represented until 1992.
Between 1974 and 1979 Shaw was a Member of the European Parliament, working particularly on the European budget. He was made a life peer in 1994 as Baron Shaw of Northstead.