Photo by Anthony Devlin/Getty Images Andy Burnham has been granted permission to stand for selection as Labour’s candidate in the forthcoming Makerfield by-election. Applications for selection opened today (15 May), with a shortlist expected to be drawn up by midday on Monday (18 May). Because Burnham is Manchester mayor, he needed approval from the officers’ group of Labour’s ruling National Executive Committee (NEC). He announced his intention to run in a post on X yesterday. If he is elected, he will be required to resign from his position in the Combined Authority. A Labour Party spokesperson said: “Labour’s ruling body, the National Executive Committee, has today given permission to Andy Burnham to stand in the candidate selection process in the forthcoming by-election for the Makerfield constituency.” The by-election was triggered after former minister and Starmer loyalist Josh Simons announced his resignation as MP for Makerfield on Thursday.…