The British currency, also aided by a broad selloff in the dollar, rose 0.7 percent to $1.3122, its highest since April 12.

Against the euro, the pound surged 0.6 percent to 85.25 pence, a new one-month high.

Jeremy Corbyn, leader of Britain's Labour Party, said on Friday local election results should spur lawmakers to find a way to "get a deal done" to leave the EU.

He was quoted by ITV as saying there was now a "huge impetus" on every lawmaker to deliver a deal.