Andy Burnham cleared the first hurdle in his race to replace Sir Keir Starmer in No 10 tonight as Labour officially cleared him to be the candidate in an up-coming by-election.The party's ruling National Executive Committee voted to allow him to stand in Makersfield, months after blocking a previous attempt to return to Westminster to launch a leadership bid.The Greater Manchester mayor will be allowed to put himself forward for selection in a by-election deliberately triggered to give him a way back to the top table of politics - perhaps as early as mid-June.The NEC decision came weeks after it stopped Mr Burnham running in Gorton and Denton, a previously safe seat which it lost to the Greens.And it crowed a day in which senior figures in the party rowed in behind the former Brown-era minister and his attempt to unseat Sir Keir, who looks increasingly vulnerable. This morning Wes Streeting backed Mr Burnham to be the Makersfield candidate, less than 24 hours after quitting as health secretary ahead of an expected run at the top job himself. After an endorsement from Lucy Powell and reports the NEC vote would be close, Mr Streeting took to social media to write: 'We need our best players on the pitch. There is no doubt that Andy Burnham is one of them.'It will add fuel to claims that the two men have done a deal to topple Sir Keir, although allies of Mr Streeting have insisted he will run in any future contest.The general secretary of Usdaw, Joanne Thomas, also said her union would instruct its NEC reps to back Burnham. Less than 24 hours after quitting as health secretary ahead of an expected run at the top job himself, Mr Streeting said there should be no obstacles to the Greater Manchester Mayor standing in the Makerfield by-electionIt will add fuel to claims that the two men have done a deal to topple Sir Keir The PM and his allies today tried to suggest he was just getting on with his job amid a backdrop of internal party jostling, as he visited a police station in LambethA Labour Party spokesman 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.' But Reform today vowed to throw everything they have at stopping Mr Burnham from becoming an MP as it seeks to embarrass the Labour big beast's plan for a triumphant return to Westminster.Deputy leader Richard Tice said the party wanted to 'make Burnham history'.While Mr Simons won a majority of 5,399 in the 2024 general election, Reform performed well in the area in last week's local elections, winning all the wards contested.Predictions for the 2029 election, based on current polling, make it a safe Reform win.Speaking to GB News today Mr Tice said 'the north had already spoken' about its feelings for Labour, adding: 'I am absolutely sure we will select someone who has the best chance and who will ultimately defeat Andy Burnham.'Our simple campaign is vote Reform and make Burnham history.'Analysis of the local election results from May 7 this year show that of the ten wards contested on Wigan Council that fall within the parliamentary constituency of Makerfield, either wholly or partially, Reform candidates won every single one of them.Last night Reform leader Nigel Farage vowed to 'throw absolutely everything at it' in a bid to block Mr Burnham.