Deputy Leader Christopher Tufton Endorses Audley Shaw As JLP Leader

ST ELIZABETH, Jamaica -- Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) deputy leader Christopher Tufton has publicly endorsed Audley Shaw for party leadership, insisting that the latter was the man best able to restructure, unify and lead the JLP to victory in elections. “I believe he (Shaw) has the experience to reorganise the party machinery for winning elections again,” Tufton told JLP delegates a short while ago at an internal campaign rally at the BB Coke High School in St Elizabeth. Shaw will seek to unseat current leader of the JLP Andrew Holness when the party goes to national conference in November. Tufton, seen as a prospective leader of the JLP prior to his shock loss by just 13 votes to the People’s National Party’s (PNP) Hugh Buchanan for the South West St Elizabeth seat in the December 2011 parliamentary elections, said his decision had been taken rationally and without emotion. He sought to assure Labourites that his decision in no way reflected any personal feelings towards Holness. “I support Audley but that does not mean that I dislike Andrew Holness,” said Shaw. “Andrew is a good Labourite and he has served his party well. He should be respected at all times,” said Tufton.