Theresa May's exit deal failed by 58 votes, and April 12 beckons as a new exit date for the UK out of the EU.

More indicative votes are on the table, as the EU prepares for a 'no-deal' scenario.the Conservative government lost its Brexit vote in the House of Commons on Friday by a margin of 58 votes, on the day the UK had been scheduled to leave the EU. The heavier than anticipated loss by 344-286 votes has put Prime Minister Theresa May's deal with the EU in serious doubt.

As May described the situation as "grave," after the defeat, she also hinted at a general election: "I fear we are reaching the limits of this process in this House." Opposition Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn again called for an election after the vote.

The result means the UK has failed to meet a 2300 UTC deadline and thus loses the automatic extension of the Article 50 negotiating period until May 22, which the EU had offered last week. The British government now has to propose a new way forward to the EU by April 12 — or revoke Article 50 it triggered to leave the bloc. Otherwise, the UK will have left the EU without a deal.

The European Council (EC) reacted to Friday's vote by announcing a special meeting for April 10 to discuss Brexit and a possible extension which would involve the UK taking part in the European elections in May.