Trump-backed Jim Jordan chosen as Speaker nominee

Conservative firebrand Jim Jordan has been chosen as Republican nominee to become Speaker of the House.

Mr Jordan, who has the backing of former President Donald Trump, faced opposition from Georgia lawmaker Austin Scott.

The Ohio congressman won 124 votes from party members in the secret ballot held on Friday afternoon, the BBC's US partner CBS News reported.

But Mr Jordan still faces significant opposition within the party.

Supporters of Steve Scalise - who was nominated as the party's candidate for Speaker on Wednesday before withdrawing - have vowed to oppose Mr Jordan at all costs.

And Mr Jordan only narrowly expanded the fragile margin Steve Scalise earned on Wednesday of 113 to 99. Whether he has enough votes to win to secure an overall majority in the chamber is therefore unclear.

Immediately following the vote, the Republican representatives took a second motion to determine whether members would support Mr Jordan in a floor vote, before breaking up for the weekend.

The House has now gone 10 days without a Speaker. Until a new candidate is chosen the House will be unable to pass any bills, approve White House requests for emergency aid or pass short-term spending bills.