LONDON - The elder brother of Bernie Sanders, the radical leftwing US politician, will run for a seat in the British parliament vacated by former Prime Minister David Cameron, the Financial Times reported on Friday (Sept 23).

The 81-year old Mr Larry Sanders - not to be confused with the US comedian of the same name - is currently the health spokesman for the Green party, which has only one MP.

Both Sanders brothers were born in New York but Larry moved to Britain in 1968. In 2015 he ran as a Green candidate in neighbouring Oxford West and Abingdon, coming fifth, FT said.

The former social worker and lawyer has credited much of his political education to his brother Bernie, the Vermont Senator who ran a close race against former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination.

Bernie has inspired a host of younger, idealistic leftwingers in the same way as Britain's opposition leader, the anti-establishment Jeremy Corbyn.

The by-election was prompted by Mr Cameron's surprise decision this month to quit as an MP for the wealthy, rural seat of Witney, three months after the Brexit vote prompted him to quit as prime minister.

Mr Larry Sanders said he was standing for election in Witney because of the "astonishing degree of inequality" in the UK, reported FT.

He criticised the price of housing, the fragmentation of the National Health Service and cuts to public services.

"Only one party, the Green party, has policies to correct these stupidities and injustices," he said according to FT.

"We need to show that we don't want Britain to be the most unequal country in Europe. We don't want unmet health needs to increase when we already have too few doctors, nurses, and hospital beds," he said.

"This is a rich, capable and decent country. We can do better."

However, said FT, the odds are on Conservative candidate Robert Courts, a 37-year old local councillor and barrister, to keep the seat for the ruling party.