Gay marriage in England and Wales moved a significant step closer last night, leading to calls of "swift action" on the issue in Scotland.

The Scottish Government has pledged to bring forward a bill on same-sex marriage before the end of June.

Campaigners last night called for action to ensure the proposals quickly become law.

It comes after peers voted down by 390 votes to 148 a move to kill a similar same-sex marriage bill in the House of Lords.

The scale of the defeat suggests the bill will not face significant further parliamentary hurdles before becoming law.

Following the vote, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie said: "With the UK leading the way in equal marriage for England and Wales I hope we can move swiftly to pass this legislation for gay couples in Scotland."

Labour MSP Drew Smith said there was now an onus on MSPs of all parties who have supported the change to "get on and deliver on the pledge that we have made".

The Lords vote followed two days of fierce debate on the issue.

One peer, former Scottish Secretary Lord Forsyth, warned that in his 30 years in politics he had never known an issue to be so divisive, "not even the poll tax".

Others warned that same-sex marriage would harm family life and could even legalise polygamy.

Before the debate had started former cabinet minister Lord Tebbit warned the plans would leave open the possibility of a lesbian queen giving birth to an heir by artificial insemination.

Lord Glenarthur told the Lords the bill was a "threat to family life", while the Duke of Montrose warned the proposals would remove the "traditional Christian connotation" of marriage.

Lord Mackay of Clashfern, the former Lord Advocate and Lord Chancellor, told a crowded chamber marriage was for "natural procreation" and added: "It can never be the same for same-sex couples."

However, others argued the plans to extend marriage to same-sex couples would strengthen the institution of marriage and ensure equality before the law.

Openly gay Labour peer Lord Alli paid tribute to David Cameron, saying the Prime Minister had shown a "huge amount of personal courage" in pressing ahead with the bill.

"Everyone deserves the right to have their love recognised equally by the state," he added.

Lord Jay of Ewelme, a former permanent secretary at the Foreign Office, said the bill reflected the "evolution of our own society" and he was proud to support it.

He said he had been happily married for 38 years, adding: "To share with others what we value ourselves is surely a sign of a tolerant and, yes, a Christian society."

Former Labour first minister, Lord McConnell tweeted: "Against the blocking amendment 390-148 well done to those who spoke so well and won the day for #equalmarriage Progress!"

Culture Secretary Maria Miller posted on Twitter: "Great result in @UKHouseofLords tonight, overwhelming support from peers from all sides."

Those who voted against the billl included 16 Labour peers, 66 Conservatives, two Liberal Democrats, 46 crossbenchers and nine bishops. The supporters of the Bill were 80 Tories, 160 Labour peers, 73 Lib Dems, 68 crossbenchers and nine others. No Government Lords frontbenchers voted for the amendment.

The Society for the Protection of Unborn Children said that its campaign against the change, including in Scotland, was "far from over".