A gay MP, who took 30 years to come out, is delighted that peers have backed plans for gay marriage.

The same sex marriage bill moved closer to law this week as the House of Lords voted to reject a ‘wrecking amendment’.

Banstead’s MP Crispin Blunt, who separated from his wife announcing he was gay in 2010, welcomed the almost final step towards legal equality for gay people in the UK.

Mr Blunt said: "It’s the end of a very long road. Attitudes have changed very profoundly."

The debates heard this week were an enormous contrast to wrangling over whether to decriminalise homosexuality in the 1960s.

Looking back Mr Blunt said: "There’s been almost 60 years of progress."

He said Lord Jenkin put the case of same sex marriage very succinctly on Monday.

During the debate Lord Jenkin firstly said he was very sorry to find arguments that ‘reek of homophobia’ still exist.

Mr Jenkin, who celebrated his diamond wedding last year, also asked: "Is this Bill going to redefine that marriage? I cannot see how that could possibly happen."

As a Christian he said there is every reason for the church, in time, to accept it would put the concept of a ‘loving relationship’ at the centre of marriage.

He said: "I have come to the firm conclusion that there is nothing to fear in gay marriage and that, indeed, it will be a positive good not just for same-gender unions but for the institution of marriage generally."