9:56pm UK, Tuesday November 05, 2002

Peers have backed the move to allow unmarried and gay and lesbian couples to adopt children.

180 house of lords generic

Surprise vote a slap in the face for IDS

The surprise vote is being seen as another slap in the face for Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith.

Hours earlier he had told his party to "unite or die" - a number of MPs had ignored his three-line whip to vote against the Adoption and Children Bill in the Comons.

The voting in the Lords was 215 to 184 - a majority of 31.

Impassioned

It came after an impassioned four-hour debate.

Peers rejected the idea last month but were asked to reconsider when MPs voted in favour on Monday.

The result is also a blow for family values campaigners led by Tory health spokesman Earl Howe.