Obamacare repeal fails once again as McCain rebels

Donald Trump and Senate Republicans’ latest attempt to push through a 'skinny' version of an Obamacare repeal fell through once again on Thursday night, as three GOP senators rebelled against the bill.

Among them was John McCain, the prominent Arizona lawmaker who was recently diagnosed with cancer and returned to vote on the legislation in Washington.

Trump has so far had no success on his key campaign promise of repealing and replacing the landmark healthcare act, as Republicans remain divided on the issue. Some senators and representatives believe it to be too restrictive, with as many as 16.0m US citizens thought to be at risk of losing their insurance if the act is repealed.

The latest repeal, which was a slimmed down version of previously defeated bills, was voted down 51-49, with McCain joining fellow Republicans Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski in torpedoing the legislation.

The former presidential candidate has gained a reputation as a fiery politician that is not afraid to break party lines, and he did so on Thursday despite several conversations with vice-president Mike Pence.

Obamacare currently requires all Americans to have healthcare coverage, offering funding to states in order to offer affordable alternatives.

McCain said following the vote that he believed Obamacare should be repealed and replaced, but the latest alternative does not provide a solution which improves the current system.

"While the amendment would have repealed some of Obamacare’s most burdensome regulations, it offered no replacement to actually reform our health care system and deliver affordable, quality health care to our citizens," McCain said.