A Bradford MS sufferer who has been campaigning for the “right-to-die” has said new guidelines on assisted suicide have given her a life back – but has vowed to continue fighting for a change in the law.

Debbie Purdy won her seven-year legal battle last year after five Law Lords unanimously backed her call for a policy statement from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) on the circumstances in which a person might face prosecution for helping a loved one end their life abroad.

Mrs Purdy, of Undercliffe, Bradford, told the T&A she now knew if the time came and she wanted to end her life her husband Omar would not be prosecuted.

She said: “I would have ended my life if the law Lords had not said we needed clarification and I was not ready to end it, I may never be ready to end it. This clarity gives me assurances my husband would not be prosecuted.

“The T&A first published my case and now everyone knows about it. I have been lucky enough to speak out and people know what I want so there cannot be any confusion. But thousands of others have not had the same chance and that is why we need a change in the law.”

The new guidelines will place more scrutiny on the motivation of the person aiding the suicide and each case would be judged on merit. Less emphasis on the health of the victim was included and the guidance makes clear anyone assisting suicide who benefits from the death is unlikely to be prosecuted as long as compassion was the “driving force” behind their actions.

DPP Keir Starmer said: “The policy is now more focused on the motivation of the suspect rather than the characteristics of the victim. The policy does not change the law on assisted suicide. It does not open the door for euthanasia.”

Mrs Purdy said she will continue lobbying ministers to allow a debate in the Commons on changing the law.

She said: “Changing the law will save lives and politicians have a duty to have this discussion. People are dying early because we do not have a law.

“Suicide is not illegal and people are killing themselves when they may not be ready to end their life just because of fear of what may happen in the future.

“While this clarification gives me hope, there are thousands whose voices have not been heard and they will only have the security I now have through a change in the law.”