London (CNN) The British government has laid groundwork that would enable it to participate in the European Parliament elections next month, should the UK still find itself in the EU by the time the vote takes place. The move signals a possibility that Brexit could be delayed beyond the May 23 election date -- nearly three years after Britons voted in a referendum to leave the EU -- locking the UK into participating in the European poll. "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 in European Parliamentary elections," a Cabinet Office spokesperson told CNN. "As a responsible government today we have taken the necessary steps required by law should we have to participate." Those steps include tabling the Day of Poll Order, which sets the date for elections to take place in the UK on May 23.

Source: CNN April 08, 2019 19:21 UTC