Larry Sanders, who grew up with his brother in New York but moved to the UK in the 1960s, has been announced as the Green Party's health spokesperson, which comes after he was elected to Oxford Council in 2005.
Great to be working with Larry Sanders as @TheGreenParty Health Spokesperson- I think you've heard of his brother?! #FeelTheBern #saveournhs
— Amelia Womack (@Amelia_Womack) February 11, 2016
With 30 years experience working in the health industry, Larry said he would continue to raise concerns held over the state of the UK's National Health Service (NHS).
"2016 should be another good year for the Green Party, but we're not in the public's eye as much as we should be. We're the only party that is consistently speaking out against NHS privatization and we know that the public will support us on this issue," he said.
The announcement came just days after his brother, Vermont senator Bernie, turned up the heat on Democratic rival Hillary Clinton with a resounding win in the New Hampshire primary elections, as the two square off to become the presidential candidate for the Democratic party.
The latest development also seems to reveal the strong anti-establishment gene in the Sanders family, with Bernie — who has described himself as a "democratic socialist" — gaining support as a left-wing rebel candidate in the US presidential race, while Larry's Green Party has consistently been regarded as a protest voice in British politics.
Larry Sanders, brother of someone called Bernie Sanders, has become UK Greens health spokesman. Says bro's platform identical to Greens.
— Patrick Wintour (@patrickwintour) February 11, 2016
It seems the similarities extend to political beliefs as well, with Larry noting the similarities between the policy proposals of his brother's campaign and his party's.
"Bernie's main platform is almost identical to the Green Party's."
With Bernie surprising US political analysts with the level of support he has generated, brother Larry says he's confident his sibling can go all the way to the White House.
"I wasn't so sure how he would do at first, but the way things have been going recently, can he do it? Yes he can."
