Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May is seen in a car outside the Houses of Parliament in London, Britain, March 27, 2019. REUTERS/Hannah McKay

LONDON (Reuters) - A leadership contest to replace British Prime Minister Theresa May will begin after May 22 if her deal to leave the European Union is passed by parliament, her office told Conservative lawmakers on Wednesday.

In a statement to lawmakers in May’s Conservative Party, her office said a timetable for the leadership election would be set by the party and that she would remain as prime minister until her successor was elected.

“This is about providing new leadership for phase 2 (of the negotiations to leave the EU), but we have to get through phase 1 first and leave,” said the statement, which was seen by Reuters.