It’s a pity Dave didn’t heed his own advice...

AS a highly critical friend, it is not often this paper agrees wholeheartedly with David Cameron. But when the former prime minister brands as ‘selfish’ those now calling for a relaxation in spending curbs, he speaks a truth that needs trumpeting from the rooftops.

Indeed, it cannot be stressed too strongly that there is nothing compassionate about borrowing to award inflation-busting pay rises to 5.1million state sector workers.

On the contrary, further loosening the Treasury’s purse strings can only put growth and jobs at risk while adding yet more to the mountain of debt – fast approaching £2trillion – with which we’re saddling our young.

As Mr Cameron said yesterday: ‘ Giving up on sound finances isn’t being generous, it’s being selfish – spending money today that you may need tomorrow.’

Wise words indeed, to which Boris Johnson and others courting expensive popularity should pay heed. It’s just a shame Mr Cameron didn’t act on them with more conviction when he had the chance.

Indeed, if only he and his chancellor had kept their word to balance the books by 2015, the pain would be over by now.

As it is, this paper has much sympathy with state sector workers enduring their seventh year of pay restraint.

But never let it be forgotten that many in the private sector have made far greater sacrifices, as this week’s pay survey by the Office for Manpower Economics makes unmistakably clear.

Yes, there could be a case for raising the pay cap where there are shortfalls in recruitment. But a general spending splurge would undo all the progress made since the crash, while inevitably jeopardising jobs in every sector.

It would also be a gross betrayal of our children and grandchildren.