British Prime Minister Theresa May ruled out calling a fresh election prior to 2020 , in her first major interview since taking office, Sky News reported on Sunday.

It comes after speculation Theresa May would take advantage of her poll lead over Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn to try and bolster her fragile majority in the House of Commons.

However, in her first major interview since taking office, Mrs May said: "I'm not going to be calling a snap election.

"I've been very clear that I think we need that period of time, that stability - to be able to deal with the issues that the country is facing and have that election in 2020."

The PM also warned there will be "difficult times ahead" after the vote to leave the European Union, despite recent better than expected economic figures.

In a wide-ranging interview on the BBC's Andrew Marr Show, she said: "I'm not going to pretend that it's all going to be plain sailing.

"I think we must be prepared for the fact that there may be some difficult times ahead. But what I am is optimistic."

Mrs May insisted that powers to limit EU immigration would be a priority in any exit deal.

"What leaving the European Union does enable us to do is to say what I think the British people are very clear about, which is that they don't want free movement to continue in the way that it has done in the past.

"They do want to see controls of movement of people coming in from the European Union. Now, obviously we're looking at what those options are."

People also want to see opportunities for jobs and the economy, the PM added, "so getting a good deal in trading goods and services is also obviously important for us".

Brexit Secretary David Davis will set out the Government's position on the Brexit deal in the House of Commons this week.

Mrs May was speaking ahead of her visit to China for the G20 summit of world leaders. 

Source: MENA