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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Oliver O'Connell

House speaker vote – live: McCarthy vows to fight on despite humiliation as House adjourns amid chaotic scenes

AP

Kevin McCarthy loses sixth vote in House speaker bid, as chamber adjourns

The chaos on Capitol Hill continues for a third day on Thursday as the Republican party remains at war over who to elect as the next speaker of the House of Representatives.

On Wednesday, Kevin McCarthy failed to secure enough votes during fourth, fifth and sixth roll call votes, prompting Congress to adjourn until 12pm ET on Thursday.

Two sources told CNN that the GOP House leader offered to make key concessions on Wednesday night including agreeing to a proposed rule change on calling a vote to oust a sitting speaker.

The concessions come as Mr McCarthy is desperately trying to secure the 218 votes to get him over the line while a group of far-right Republicans are refusing to back him.

The group – dubbed the Never Kevins – includes the likes of Lauren Boebert and Matt Gaetz who told reporters that the stalemate will not end with Mr McCarthy as speaker.

President Joe Biden slammed the dysfunction in the GOP, saying that the failure to appoint a speaker is “embarrassing” for the country.

Watch the proceedings live here.

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