A new book has claimed Margaret Thatcher found her cause in a "strict kind" of Christianity, and had "too much" faith in the goodness of humanity.

'God and Mrs Thatcher' by historian Dr Eliza Filby suggests the former Prime Minister's public service record was based on her desire to serve God.

The book also claims her moral values, which were inspired by John Wesley, made the former Prime Minister believe that if you gave people freedom to become prosperous, they would save more, give more and would realise their obligations and be kind to those worse off.

It says her father emphasised that religion was all about the individual's relationship with God, and said churches who got involved in social issues were being distracted from the Gospel.

However, speaking to the Independent, the author claims Mrs Thatcher never saw herself as being on a mission from God, as Ronald Reagan did. "That language would have made no sense to her. She would have said, 'I have a duty to serve, and in doing so I am serving God.'"

Dr Filby, also believes that when she said there was "no such thing as society" it was not a negative or flippant statement but an optimistic rallying cry for individual moral responsibility to oneself and to one another.