Updated
The Guardian reports that the marriage equality bill is moving forward:
Evening summary
• Peers have voted by a majority of 242 to allow the gay marriage bill to continue its passage through the Lords. Although victory for the pro-bill lobby was never seriously in doubt, the size of their win took some peers by surprise. The Lords voted by 390 votes to 148 to reject an attempt by Lord Dear, a crossbencher, to defeat the bill at second reading. It is very unusual for the Lords to block a bill at second reading and some peers may have been voting against Dear because they were opposed to the idea of the Lords trying to obstruct legislation in this way, not because they were great supporters of the bill. But the size of the majority means the bill must now be certain to become law. However, it is still likely that attempts will be made to amend it in the Lords, in particular to strengthen the protection available to churches who do not want to conduct gay weddings. Lady Stowell, a government whip, told peers in her wind-up speech that the government would not necessarily object to amendments of this kind.
According to Giles Fraser on Twitter: 9 C of E bishops supported the “wrecking amendment” and 5 abstained.
UPDATE
@churchstate
House of Lords votes to pass Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill by 390 to
148. Majority 242. 14 bishops at vote. 9 voted against, 5 abstained.
@churchstate
To clarify last tweet. 9 bishops voted for Lord Dear’s amendment not to
give the Bill a 2nd Reading. 5 abstained.