She was the saviour of our nation

David Cameron cut short his official trip to Europe yesterday to make a sombre and heartfelt statement from the steps of Downing Street to the woman he described as his “inspiration”.

“Margaret Thatcher didn’t just lead our country – she saved our country,” the Prime Minister said.

“We can’t deny that Lady Thatcher divided opinion. For many of us, she was and is an inspiration.

“For others she was a force to be defined against.

“But if there is one thing that cuts through all of this – one thing that runs through everything she did – it was her lion-hearted love for this country.

“She was the patriot Prime Minister, and she fought for Britain’s interests every single step of the way.”

Former Conservative premier Sir John Major, who replaced Lady Thatcher as Prime Minister in 1990 after she lost the support of her party, described her as a “true force of nature” and a “political phenomenon”.

He said: “Her reforms of the economy, trade union law, and her recovery of the Falkland Islands, elevated her above normal politics, and may not have been achieved under any other leader.”

Buckingham Palace said the Queen would be sending private condolences to her family.

“The Queen was sad to hear the news of the death of Baroness Thatcher,” a statement said.

“Her Majesty will be sending a private message of sympathy.”

Religious leaders too paid their respects, with the new Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, saying: “It was with sadness that I heard the news of the death of Baroness Thatcher.

“It is right that we give thanks for a life devoted to public service.”

Chief Rabbi Lord Sacks added: “Baroness Thatcher was a giant who had a transformative impact on Britain.

“She was loved and admired by many in the Jewish community who will miss her deeply.”

In the US, President Barack Obama led the tributes, supported by Nancy Reagan – wife of former President Ronald Reagan, with whom Lady Thatcher enjoyed a close relationship during the 1980s.

Mr Obama said: “Here in America, many of us will never forget her standing shoulder to shoulder with President Reagan, reminding the world that we are not simply carried along by the currents of history – we can shape them with moral conviction, unyielding courage and iron will.”

In the UK, political leaders from all the main parties set aside their difference to pay their respects.

Liberal Democrat leader and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said: “Margaret Thatcher was one of the defining figures in modern British politics.

“Whatever side of the political debate you stand on, no-one can deny that as Prime Minister she left a unique and lasting imprint on the country she served.”

And Labour leader Ed Miliband said Lady Thatcher would be “remembered as a unique figure”.

“She reshaped the politics of a whole generation,” he said. “She was Britain’s first woman Prime Minister. She moved the centre ground of British politics, and was a huge figure on the world stage.

“The Labour Party disagreed with much of what she did, and she will always remain a controversial figure. But we can disagree and also greatly respect her political achievements and her personal strength.”

But it was among Lady Thatcher’s fellow Conservatives where the tributes were understandably most heartfelt.

Foreign Secretary William Hague said Mrs Thatcher “rescued the country in the 1980s”.

He said: “She gave the country hope in so many ways, and also gave great hope to millions of people around the world.”

Mayor of London Boris Johnson said Britain had lost its greatest leader since Winston Churchill.

“Her legacy is colossal,” he said. “She was right about the unions, she was right about Soviet communism, and recent events have shown that she was completely right about the euro.

“This country is deeply in her debt.

“Her memory will live long after the world has forgotten the grey suits of today’s politics.”