Lawmakers in the UK House of Commons have passed a motion to rule out the United Kingdom leaving the European Union on 12 April without a withdrawal deal.

The bill tabled by Labour MP Yvette Cooper requires Prime Minister Theresa May to ask the European Union to delay the UK's divorce if Parliament can't come up with a plan to avoid the so-called "hard Brexit".  The measure passed with one vote, 313-312.

A spokesman for Number Ten says the May government is "disappointed" with the outcome.

"The prime minister has already set out a clear process through which we can leave the European Union with a deal and we have already committed to seeking a further extension," the spokesman added.

The bill will go to the House of Lords when Thursday rolls around to London.  If it passes, it will rule out a crashing out of the EU without a deal once and for all. 

Also on Thursday, Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar goes to Germany to meet with Chancellor Angela Merkel about avoiding a return to a hard border with Northern Ireland, with both meeting with people from Northern Ireland and the border area, who will share their personal experience and perspective.

"These are people for whom the border is a very real issue - people from communities along the border, from business, and with direct personal experience of conflict before the Good Friday Agreement," said an Irish government spokesman.  "It is important to hear their voices as we work together to deal with the challenges that Brexit presents."