TOTNES MP Sarah Wollaston has spoken out in support of the Marriage (same sex couple) Bill which has split the Conservative Party in two.

MPs voted in favour of the Bill on Tuesday night by 400 to 175, a majority of 225.

But voting lists show 136 Conservatives, almost half of the party's MPs, opposed the bill – despite it having David Cameron's personal backing.

Of the remaining Conservative MPs, 127 were in favour, 35 did not vote, and five registered an abstention by voting both in favour and against.

Labour and Liberals Democrat MPs were strongly in favour of the Bill.

The legislation will now receive more detailed parliamentary scrutiny. If it becomes law it will mean that same sex couples will be able to get married in both civil and religious ceremonies.

Totnes MP Sarah Wollaston said: 'I voted in favour of extending the right to marry to same sex couples.

'I believe that sexuality is fundamental to who we are and that it is time for society to recognise and respect this by extending civil marriage.

'Words matter; marriage has great symbolism and many people wrote to tell me that this measure would undermine it.

'I do not believe that is the case; religious marriage is unaffected and no church or minister will be under any obligation to conduct same sex ceremonies. Spain, Portugal, Denmark and several other European nations have introduced same sex marriage and there has never been a successful prosecution in the European courts to force religious institutions to follow suit.

'How can marriage be undermined because one couple believes it symbolises something different to those of other faiths or none?

'The definition of marriage has changed over the centuries and for the better in my opinion.

'Married women's property rights were every bit as contentious in their day.

'It is true that marriage has for millennia been legal only between a man and a woman and many people wrote to express their dismay at the change this bill would bring.

'But the fact is that for almost all of that time it has been illegal to be openly gay in this country.

Within living memory we were still 'treating' homosexuality as if it were some kind of defect.

We might not be enjoying our freedom today without the genius of Alan Turing and his work at Bletchley Park and yet he was driven to suicide as a result of such 'treatment' and his persecution through the courts.

'In many parts of the world today it remains a death sentence to be openly gay.

'It is time for society to recognise and respect people regardless of their sexuality. You cannot be a little bit equal.

'I do not believe that people of faith will feel any different about their own relationships because others are able to enjoy the same rights to be married.

'I accept that some readers will profoundly disagree with my vote.'

MP for South West Devon Gary Streeter chaired this bill through the committee so was not able to vote.