1 min read3 hr Andy Burnham has received approval from Labour’s ruling body to run for selection in the Makerfield parliamentary by-election, bringing the Greater Manchester mayor one step closer to being able to run in a leadership contest to replace Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The National Executive Committee (NEC) has announced it is allowing Burnham to run for selection in the Makerfield by-election, potentially giving him a route back to Parliament. The by-election will reportedly take place on 18 June. If he wins the by-election and returns as an MP, this would make him eligible to launch a leadership challenge against Starmer. The current Labour MP for Makerfield, Josh Simons, announced on Thursday that he was stepping down to make way for Burnham. However, the Manchester mayor will still have to win the selection to stand in the seat, and then win the by-election itself in an area where Reform UK has been polling strongly and performed well in last week’s local elections. The NEC had previously blocked Burnham from standing in the Gorton & Denton by-election earlier …