Stonewall Chief Executive Ben Summerskill said: "As the last piece of the legislative jigsaw providing equality for gay people in Britain, this is a truly historic step forward. We’re absolutely delighted that MPs have demonstrated so overwhelmingly that they’re in touch with the twenty-first century.

 "We anticipate, as always, a tough battle in the House of Lords. Happily, the size of the Commons majority seen tonight – much larger than for most normal Government business – will make it very difficult for peers to suggest that the Bill should be rejected."

 "Most people in Britain support equal marriage and will be delighted that we’re now a step closer to it. We’re grateful to the thousands of Stonewall supporters, many of them straight, who played a big part by contacting their MPs in support."

LGBTory, the Conservative Party’s affiliated LGBT group, welcomes the progress towards equality in the House of Commons this evening. MPs voted in favour of the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill and it will now proceed to Committee Stage.

Matthew Sephton, LGBTory Chairman commented: “We are delighted, after months of work, that history has been made today with the progression of the bill led by a Conservative Prime Minister, to allow same sex couples to marry."

"It is disappointing that a significant number of Conservative MPs opposed the bill at this stage. There has been a well-funded campaign of propaganda and misinformation by those opposing equality that has left many struggling to understand the true facts of this simple legislation."

"We will continue to counter these lies and hope more MPs will be able to support the bill at its next vote”.

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