Jim Jordan reverses decision on bid for US House speaker role

The US House of Representatives remained in paralysis on Thursday as infighting continued among Republicans over how to fill the crucial post of speaker.

Conservative Republican congressman Jim Jordan insisted he would continue with his attempts to secure the post, efforts which had earlier appeared to be foundering.

Mr Jordan lost two votes for the speakership in recent days and his level of support among House Republicans dropped for the second ballot.

Politicians who took part in an internal Republican Party meeting on Thursday morning said Mr Jordan had signalled he was suspending his campaign and would back moves to give greater powers, on a temporary basis, to the interim speaker, Patrick McHenry.

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This would have allowed North Carolina representative Mr McHenry to lead the House and facilitate the passing of some legislation until after Christmas.

It was indicated that in the meantime Mr Jordan would continue to try generate support among Republican Party members in the House to win the speakership at a later date.

However, Mr Jordan later said that he was pressing on with his bid to become speaker, which would require a third vote in the chamber. “I’m still running for speaker and I plan to go to the floor and get the votes and win this race,” Mr Jordan told reporters.

As the infighting continued in the Republican ranks in the Hous, several politicians in the party vociferously opposed any move to give greater powers to Mr McHenry to restart the process of bringing legislation through the House until after Christmas.

Republican critics of the plan said it would effectively cede control of the chamber to the opposition Democrats and create a damaging precedent. It was also unclear as to whether Democrats would back the move and, if so, what concessions they would demand in return.

Since the ousting of the former speaker Kevin McCarthy a fortnight ago, the House has been in limbo and unable to pass any legislation.

To secure the speakership, candidates need to win 217 votes in the chamber. But in a House Republican Party which is beset by feuds and infighting, there has been no across-the-board agreement on who should get the role.

Neither has there been any consensus on how to break the impasse.

The position of speaker pro tempore was established after the terrorist attacks on September 11th, 2001 to allow work to continue in the event of the substantive post suddenly becoming vacant.

Mr McHenry had been nominated to this interim role in advance by Mr McCarthy and took up the position when the former speaker was suddenly removed.

As the situation is unprecedented, there is dispute among politicians as to the scope of the powers available to the interim speaker beyond bringing the House to order to try elect someone to the post on a full-time basis.