Bernie Sanders' brother gets frontline role with UK Greens

The brother of Democratic US presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders was named as the new health spokesman for England and Wales's Green Party Thursday, two days after his sibling's New Hampshire primary win.

Larry Sanders, who is 81 and has lived in Britain since 1969, is a retired social worker. He stood unsuccessfully as a candidate for the Greens in Oxford at last year's general election and has also represented them on the local council.

"Bernie's main platform is almost identical to the Green Party's," Larry Sanders said in a press release released by the Greens confirming his appointment.

On his brother's chances in the race for the White House, he added: "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."

Green Party policies at the 2015 election included increasing the minimum wage to £10 (13 euros, $14) an hour, introducing a wealth tax on the richest one percent of voters and ending austerity measures.

They have just one lawmaker in Britain's House of Commons.

Bernie Sanders, a senator from Vermont who describes himself as a democratic socialist, finished well ahead of rival Hillary Clinton in Tuesday's New Hampshire primary and is drawing strong support from voters, including many younger ones.