Bernie Sanders’ brother Larry stands in David Cameron’s old constituency

Witney, Oxfordshire, is about to feel the Bern. Well, kind of. Larry Sanders, brother of US Democratic Senator Bernie Sanders, is running as the UK Green Party candidate for former Prime Minister David Cameron’s parliamentary constituency.

Bernie’s older brother Larry will run against the Conservative Party’s pick to replace Cameron, a local councilor and barrister.

The 82-year-old was recently appointed as the Green Party’s health spokesman and is credited with inspiring his brother’s passion for politics.

Sanders joined the Greens in 2001, leaving Labour under Tony Blair’s leadership.

The two brothers were born in Brooklyn, New York, to Jewish parents, their father a Polish immigrant and their mother a second-generation American.

Several members of their father’s family were killed in the Holocaust, an event which Bernie claims helped shape his political consciousness.

After studying at Harvard Law School, Larry moved to Britain in the late 1960s, where he has lived ever since.

Larry served as a pledged delegate for his brother at the Democratic National Convention in July after an active role in the overseas campaign to nominate Bernie for president.

Upon casting his vote at the convention, Larry said, “I want to bring before this convention, the names of our parents. Eli Sanders and Dorothy Glassberg Sanders. They did not have easy lives and they died young.

“They would be immensely proud of their son and his accomplishments. They loved him.

“They loved the New Deal of Franklin Roosevelt and would be especially proud that Bernard is renewing that vision. It is with enormous pride that I cast my vote for Bernie Sanders.”

The Conservative Party has selected Robert Courts, 37, to replace Cameron as MP for Witney.

“For the last 15 years we have had a brilliant MP and public servant in David Cameron and it is wonderful that he and his family plan to stay local,” Courts said after his selection on Thursday night.

“This was a strong shortlist of local candidates and I’m delighted Robert Courts has been chosen,” Cameron said.