Democrats accused of ‘lack of urgency’ in budget crisis talks

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy speaks to reporters as debt limit negotiations continue (Jacquelyn Martin/AP)

Republicans complained of a “lack of urgency” as talks continue to resolve the US budget dispute and avert a chaotic federal default.

Failure to strike a deal by the June 1 deadline would inflict economic pain and throw the US financial markets into turmoil – having fallen on Tuesday with no deal in sight.