THEY say you can’t have friends in politics – BUT that’s not true.

Over the 15 years that David Cameron and I sat together in the House of Commons, we became very good friends.

7 David Cameron and George Osborne worked together for 15 years - now as the former PM stands down from his Witney seat, his friend pays tribute to his work in government Credit: Getty Images

People assume we knew each other well before we both entered Parliament. We didn’t. It was only when we found ourselves on the green benches together that we started to talk and debate and confide in each other.

Now, for the first time, I sit on those benches without David — and I will miss him.

The manner of his departure last week was true to the man: Uncomplicated, uncomplaining and decisive.

7 His departure was uncomplicated and decisive, like the man I know - and I will miss him on the green benches as we continue to govern Credit: Getty Images

All he could see ahead of him was endless speculation about whether or not he agreed with Theresa May about this or that issue.

And for someone who takes enormous pride in turning the Conservatives from a party stuck in opposition into an effective, modern party of government, the last thing he wanted was to undermine his successor.

So he left Parliament and the constituency in west Oxfordshire, which I know he has loved representing.

7 All David could see ahead was speculation about his level of agreement with Theresa May on key issues - so he did the right thing and stepped down Credit: PA:Press Association

What will the history books make of David Cameron?

Of course they will record the referendum on our membership of the EU, which we both lost and which brought his premiership to an end.

But he left office having delivered the referendum which he had promised Britain, and which more people took part in than any other single day in the long democratic history of our country. No one can accuse David of stirring up political apathy — the debate about the future of Britain has never been more lively.

And what of the previous six years in Downing Street?

It started with a moment of supreme political courage. In the dark days of May 2010, Britain was facing the double trouble of both an economic and constitutional crisis.

As the famous letter left by an out-going Labour minister put it, there was “no money left”, and the election had just delivered a hung parliament in which no one had a majority.

7 Britain faced an economic and constitutional crisis in 2010 - but now our economic growth and growth in soft power mean we are a major political force worldwide Credit: Getty Images

I cannot think of another political leader who would have the bold vision to try to form a coalition.

But David did.

And by forming a stable Government, he enabled the rest of us to put together a long-term economic plan that pulled Britain back from the brink. The plan was tough and, at times, unpopular.

It meant cutting spending, backing the private sector and taking on a host of critics.

But as I delivered the difficult Budgets needed, David never wavered in his support for his Chancellor.

The result? Last week we learnt that David Cameron leaves Parliament with more British people in work than ever before.

More than two million jobs have been created, a million new businesses have been started, wages are rising, we have a new National Living Wage and no other major advanced economy in the world has grown faster than Britain. Not bad.

7 Forming a coalition was a brave political move many leaders wouldn't have made - but David took the leap and as a result more Brits are in work than ever before Credit: i-Images Picture Agency <iim.no-reply@sender.syllo

Rescuing the economy was centre stage for much of David’s premiership, but that didn’t stop him pushing major reforms that will benefit our society for generations to come.

His passion for improving education saw academies go from being the exception to the rule, and created more than a million more good school places.

His determination to make the welfare system fairer, both to those who need it and those who pay for it, means we now have fewer people claiming out-of-work benefits that at any time since 1971.

His National Citizen Service is a great unsung success story — bringing together thousands of teenagers from different backgrounds and giving them a shared sense of belonging to our nation.

And the legalisation of gay marriage will go down as one of the great social reforms of our lifetimes — tolerance and equality, delivered by a Conservative Prime Minister.

7 The legalisation of gay marriage will go down as one of the great social reforms of our time, and was masterminded by Cameron Credit: PA:Press Association

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Above all, David is a great patriot. He loves Britain and he wanted Britain to play a big role in the world. He was immensely proud, as I was, of the British military.

He was ruthless in pursuit of our enemies. I saw his determination to hunt down those brutal IS murderers who killed our hostages and plotted death on our streets.

And as someone from a generation scarred by the failure to intervene to stop the slaughter in Rwanda and Srebrenica, he wasn’t prepared to stand by and watch many thousands murdered by Gaddafi — and quite right so.

But he also wanted Britain to ally the hard power of military might with honouring our international aid commitment through soft power, influencing through persuasion.

7 David is above all a staunch patriot, proud of our troops and determined to defeat our enemies abroad Credit: Getty Images

Earlier this year, thanks to David, the Economist magazine ranked Britain the country with the most soft power in the world — way above China and even America.

David did all these things while bringing up a family and keeping his sanity.

On our last night in Downing Street, the loyal team who had worked with him gathered for one final dinner with his family.

It was coronation chicken and red wine.

As we sat late into the night on the terrace in the garden, we were sad to be leaving.

But we had a good laugh at all the crazy things that had happened along the way — and we took pride in what our friend, David Cameron, has achieved.