Divided Britain heads to the polls for EU elections it was not meant to hold

A polling station direction sign is seen placed on a lamppost, ahead of the forthcoming EU elections, in London, Britain, May 21, 2019. REUTERS/Toby Melville

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain will hold European Parliament elections on Thursday, a vote which is expected to show growing frustration on both sides of the Brexit divide nearly three years after the country voted to leave the European Union.

The election, which Britain did not expect to have to take part in, is a result of the deadlock in Britain over the way forward on Brexit after Prime Minister Theresa May's deal with Brussels was rejected three times by lawmakers.