She said that waiting until 2020 would mean the "most sensitive" part of the two-year Brexit negotiations would come during the run-up to an election. Now that lawmakers have approved the election, Parliament will be dissolved at midnight on May 2, 25 working days before election day. Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron said that, for May, calling the election is "the political equivalent of taking candy from a baby." EU officials say Britain's surprise election will not interrupt the bloc's preparations for Brexit talks " though they will slightly delay the start of negotiations. "We won't be doing television debates," May said, adding that politicians should spend election campaigns "out and about" meeting voters.

Source: New Zealand Herald April 19, 2017 08:57 UTC