Unmarried and homosexual couples will be allowed to adopt children, under legislation approved by the Commons last night.

Although the proposal has to be approved by the House of Lords, MPs, who were granted a free vote, backed an amendment to the Adoption and Children Bill by a majority of 155.

Although Tory MPs were on a three-line whip to oppose the measure, four Conservative frontbenchers, shadow culture secretary, Tim Yeo, shadow secretary to the Treasury, John Bercow, shadow education secretary, Damian Green and shadow DEFRA secretary, Peter Ainsworth were given permission to be absent from the vote.