Chris Green (politician)

Christopher Patrick James Green (born 12 August 1973) is a Conservative Party politician in the United Kingdom. He is the Member of Parliament (MP) for the constituency of Bolton West; he has held the seat since gaining it from the Labour Party at the 2015 general election.[1] He was elected again in the 2017 general election, increasing his majority and vote share. In August 2019, he was appointed as a Parliamentary Private Secretary in the Department for Education.[2]

Chris Green MP
Member of Parliament for Bolton West
Incumbent
Assumed office 7 May 2015
Preceded by	Julie Hilling
Majority	8,855 (18.0%)
Personal details
Born	12 August 1973 Northern Ireland
Political party	Conservative
Website	Official website

He stepped down from this position on 13 October 2020 due to his disagreement with the government's approach to coronavirus restrictions[3] and is now a steering committee member of the lockdown-sceptic COVID Recovery Group, a group of Conservative MPs who oppose the UK government's December 2020 lockdown.[4] They have been seen as an "echo" of the Brexiteer European Research Group (ERG) of MPs, and a response by backbench Conservatives to Nigel Farage's anti-lockdown Reform UK party.[4]

Early life

Green was born on 12 August 1973 in Northern Ireland during The Troubles, while his father served with the British Army. He moved back to Liverpool where his father worked in catering and his mother was employed as a school dinner lady.[5] He attended school in Liverpool before completing a Higher National Diploma qualification in physics.

Prior to being elected, Green worked as an engineer in the mass spectrometry industry for 20 years.[6] Before beginning his career as an engineer, Green worked in a variety of low-paid temporary jobs, including as a vehicle mechanic, in a picture frame factory and at a bookies.[7]

Political career

Prior to winning Bolton West, Green had contested Manchester Withington at the 2010 general election, coming third with 11.1% of the vote.[8]

At the 2015 general election, Green regained the Bolton West constituency for the Conservatives with a majority of 801 votes, the seat having been held by Labour since 1997. At the 2017 general election he increased his majority and vote share.

In 2016, he introduced a Private Member's Bill, Representation of the People (Voter Proof of Identity), requiring those on the electoral register to produce proof of identity at polling stations before voting to combat electoral fraud.[9] The policy was later included in the 2017 Conservative manifesto.[10]

During the 2015–2017 Session of Parliament, Green was elected to serve on the Science and Technology Select Committee. In 2017, he was elected to serve on the Work and Pensions Select Committee.[11] In 2018, he was appointed Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) to the Department for Transport,[12] but resigned from this post on 9 July 2018 over the government's Brexit position.

On 3 February 2016, Green held a Westminster Hall debate on Government investment in cycling. The preceding online digital debate, also held by Green, reached more than 2.1 million Twitter accounts—the highest number ever for a House of Commons digital debate.[13]

In Parliament, he has campaigned on funding for refuge services[14] and better transport links for his constituency. He has also been vocal in his opposition to building on greenfield land, campaigning against proposals to build on the Hulton Park Estate in his constituency.[15]

During the 2016 EU Referendum, he supported Brexit.[16]

On 8 July 2018, he resigned as a PPS over the government's Brexit position, citing the lack of total removal from the EU.[17]

On 16 November 2018, Green confirmed that he had submitted a letter calling for a vote of no confidence in the Prime Minister Theresa May.[18]

In August 2019, Green was appointed as a Parliamentary Private Secretary in the Department for Education following the arrival of Boris Johnson as Prime Minister.[2] His role is to assist Education Ministers in policymaking and to liaise between the department and backbenchers".[2] He stepped down from this position on 13 October 2020 due to his disagreement with the government's approach to coronavirus restrictions.[19]

In July 2020, Green apologised after he retweeted a poem which referenced antisemitic tropes about a 'New World Order' and the Rothschild family.[20]

Personal life

Green is a keen runner, having taken part in the 2017, 2018 and 2019 London Marathons to raise funds for Bolton Hospice, Fortalice, a women's refuge in Bolton and Derian House Children's Hospice.[21][22]

References

1. "Bolton West Parliamentary constituency". BBC News. Archived from the original on 6 May 2015. Retrieved 7 May 2015.
2. "MP Chris Green appointed in Department for Education role". Leigh Journal. 9 August 2019. Archived from the original on 16 October 2019. Retrieved 16 October 2019.
3. "Bolton Conservative MP resigns from government position over handling of lockdown". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
4. Hope, Christopher (10 November 2020). "Tory lockdown rebels unite to form Covid Recovery Group". The Telegraph.
5. "Chris Green MP makes Maiden Speech in House of Commons". Chris Green. Archived from the original on 30 September 2017. Retrieved 25 July 2017.
6. "About Chris". Chris Green. Archived from the original on 29 June 2017. Retrieved 10 June 2017.
7. "Young Jobseekers: 27 Oct 2015: Westminster Hall debates – TheyWorkForYou". TheyWorkForYou. Archived from the original on 30 September 2017. Retrieved 25 July 2017.
8. "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
9. "Representation of the People (Voter Proof of Identity) Bill 2016–17 — UK Parliament". services.parliament.uk. Archived from the original on 30 September 2017. Retrieved 25 July 2017.
10. "Conservative manifesto for General Election 2017: Key points, policies and summary". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 16 July 2017. Retrieved 25 July 2017.
11. "MP ready to 'get stuck in' to new committee post". The Bolton News. Archived from the original on 25 June 2018. Retrieved 25 June 2018.
12. "PPS List" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 7 May 2018. Retrieved 25 June 2018.
13. "Positive signs from Westminster Hall debate – but more government action and funding on cycling needed". British Cycling. Archived from the original on 30 September 2017. Retrieved 25 July 2017.
14. "Tory MPs express fears about refuge cuts". Coffee House. 12 December 2017. Archived from the original on 23 December 2017. Retrieved 25 June 2018.
15. "Hulton Park: MPs united in fight to overturn Ryder Cup development approval". The Bolton News. Archived from the original on 25 June 2018. Retrieved 25 June 2018.
16. "Bolton West MP Chris Green: 'I will be voting out in EU referendum'". The Bolton News. Archived from the original on 30 September 2017. Retrieved 25 July 2017.
17. "Brexit dream dying, Johnson tells May". BBC News. 9 July 2018. Archived from the original on 10 September 2019. Retrieved 9 July 2018.
18. "Chris Green submits letter asking for vote of no confidence in PM". The Bolton News. Archived from the original on 20 November 2018. Retrieved 2 December 2018.
19. "Bolton Conservative MP resigns from government position over handling of lockdown". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
20. McDonnell, Seamus (3 July 2020). "Conservative MP apologises for tweeting antisemitic poem with references to 'Rothschilds' and 'New World Order'". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
21. "MP Chris Green's marathon effort for Fortalice". The Bolton News. Archived from the original on 25 June 2018. Retrieved 25 June 2018.
22. "Chris Green completed London Marathon". www.facebook.com. Archived from the original on 16 December 2019. Retrieved 20 May 2019.

External links

• Profile at Parliament of the United Kingdom
• Contributions in Parliament at Hansard
• Voting record at Public Whip
• Record in Parliament at TheyWorkForYou