Republican leader Kevin McCarthy repeatedly voted down for House speaker role

(Jose Luis Magana/AP)

House Republicans have for the second day been unable to either elect their leader Kevin McCarthy as House speaker or come up with a suitable alternative.

Yet Mr McCarthy was not giving up, even after the fourth, fifth and sixth ballots produced no better outcome and he was left trying to call off a night-time session. Even that was controversial, as the House voted 216-214 — amid shouting and crowding — to adjourn for the night.