The UK’s House of Lords rejected a move to scupper prime minister David Cameron’s bill to allow same-sex marriage.
The chamber voted by 390 to 148 in London today against a motion to deny the bill a second reading.
The legislation has already been passed by the House of Commons amid opposition from more than 100 Conservative MPs.
It would have been very unusual for the House of Lords, which focuses on revising legislation, to vote the bill down at this stage.
Some opponents of gay marriage abstained in the vote, on the grounds that they were concerned about the constitutionality of reject the bill without first considering it in detail in committee.
The plan to introduce gay marriage has pitted Mr Cameron against many in his own party.
Activists say it is driving Conservative voters toward the UK Independence Party, which made gains in local elections last month at the expense of the Tories and their Liberal Democrat coalition partners.
The prime minister was only able to get the legislation through the Commons with the support of the opposition Labour Party.
After that vote last month, Mr Cameron used a radio interview to pledge that he would return to a focus on “the big picture” and issues such as the economy and welfare.
Bloomberg