EIGHT weeks ago, Chris Green became Bolton’s first Conservative MP since 1997, ousting Julie Hilling to take the Bolton West seat.

Since then his life has been a blur of paperwork, travelling and trying to navigate the labyrinth that is the Houses of Parliament.

Political reporter Liam Thorp went down to Westminster to speak to the new MP as he made his first contribution in the iconic old building.

CHRIS Green has just delivered his maiden speech in Parliament, he sips a drink and glances out across the sun-kissed vista of the River Thames — the relief cursing through his veins is palpable.

The 41-year-old Liverpudlian has had to wait patiently to make his first commons contribution, since the dramatic night in May when he usurped Julie Hilling to become Bolton’s sole Tory MP.

After a bit of gentle cajoling from experienced colleagues, Green arose from the famous green benches to talk passionately about his new constituency — as is the tradition for a MPs first speech — before moving on to the grander theme of international security.

“I am very pleased to have got it over and done with,” he tells me.

“It is a nerve wracking experience to be in the chamber for the first time to make a contribution to a debate and such an important one on Britain and international security.

“One of the best parts of the speech was being able to talk about all the best bits of the Bolton West and about the groups and organisations I have been getting involved with, learning about and supporting over the past couple of years.”

I ask him if enough time has now passed to let the idea of Chris Green the MP sink in.

“Yes I think it has sunk in — but I am certainly still settling in down here, now I have done my maiden speech I am looking forward to getting more involved in the debates over the course of this parliament — there is a huge amount of work in terms of the bills coming forward and the committee debates is where I will have more of an opportunity to make an impact.”

As well as tradition dictating that a maiden speech should talk about a new MPs constituency, it also suggests a nod to the predecessor, something that Green was more than happy to comply with.

“After meeting Julie during the campaign, one of the things that really came out was her sense of social justice, so I wanted to pay tribute to that and to her fantastic contribution over the past five years.

“Winning in Bolton West was never about beating her — it was just about having that opportunity to be in that position to be able to make a difference.”

Last week Ms Hilling told me that she felt people didn’t vote for herself or Mr Green, but for the parties they represented — her successor largely agrees.

“I think people voted on the record of the past five years and the vision for the future,” he admits. “It wasn’t just about the contents of a particular campaign — but the belief people have of how a particular party will handle certain situations, and at the time, the biggest concern for people was economic recovery.

“We have stabilised the economy over the past five years and I’m looking forward to the increased productivity and growth we are going to have and the improvement in people’s living standards.”

But what about austerity? It has been well documented that welfare savings of £12 billion will form a large part of the government’s plans, how will this affect the poorest people in Bolton West?

Green admits it won’t be easy, but sticks passionately to the party line. "The welfare system is being reconfigured to help people into work, rather than incentivising people to stay on benefits for the rest of their lives. It is incredibly difficult and we just have to make sure that the system works for the taxpayers as well as those receiving support.”

In his speech, which started out in an understandably nervous fashion, before gathering clarity and confidence, the Westhoughton resident championed a united British culture as a way to tackle the growing threat of extremism in our country.

“I said that culturally, we need to be united,the promotion of different cultures is a way of promoting division within Britain.

“There needs to be more emphasis on the Britishness of people from all backgrounds and less emphasis on other identities, let’s stick to the idea that if you are British — you have a British identity and let’s stop reinforcing those other identities.”

Unlike most new jobs, Green is very aware that his new career could be harshly interrupted in five years time, so there is no time to waste.

“There is so much to look forward to and with my background as an engineer I will be looking carefully at the creation of the northern powerhouse.

“One of the most important things is that we get the best out of it, that we get the training, infrastructure and skills which will enable businesses to locate and build in our area.”

He concludes: “I think we have a huge opportunity over the next five years to continue to rebuild our economy and have that feed through to the raising of living standards as well.”