MPs last night backed controversial plans to allow unmarried couples, including gay couples, to adopt children.
A Labour amendment to the Adoption and Children Bill to open up the laws of adoption which previously barred unmarried couples from adopting children, was passed by 288 votes to 133, a majority of 155.
However, while the amendment was easily passed in the Commons, it is likely to face fierce opposition in the House of Lords.
Proposing the amendment, Labour MP Mr David Hinchliffe denied he was attempting to undermine marriage and said he wanted to improve the chances of children seeking stable homes.
Although much of the public debate about the Adoption and Children Bill focused on gay adoption, Mr Hinchliffe said the main purpose of the amendment was to ensure more people came forward to adopt some of the 5,000 children in care homes and prevent them from spending years in institutions.
"The key proposal of my new clause, and the amendments following on from that, is to allow unmarried couples to apply to adopt and to be approved where suitable and where there is clear evidence of stability and permanence in their relationship," Mr Hinchliffe told MPs.
Deeply concerned about the issue of same-sex adoptive parents, the majority of Conservatives opposed the amendment.
Liberal Democrat MP Dr Evan Harris questioned the view that adoption by same-sex parents damaged children, pointing out that some research showed children "do very well" in many same-sex relationships.
The amendment also had the backing of the Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, whose father, Leo, was given up for adoption as a child, and the Health Secretary, Mr Alan Milburn, who was raised by his mother alone.