EU elections declared to take place on May 23

The British government on Monday set May 23 as the date for European Parliament elections, but said it never intends to hold them as it hopes to have left the EU by then.

A spokeswoman said the formal "day of poll order" had been laid in parliament, but added: "It remains the government's intention to leave the EU with a deal and pass the necessary legislation before 22 May, so that we do not need to participate."