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French economy minister Bruno Le Maire today branded Brexit a “historic mistake” amid claims that France is delaying Brexit talks in a bid to siphon off City jobs to Paris.

He also warned that the UK’s departure from the EU would have “bad consequences” for British people.

However, London minister Greg Hands hit back, urging France and other EU nations to “get on” with starting Brexit trade talks.

More banks and other City companies are expected to be forced to make decisions in the New Year about relocating jobs to EU countries in preparation for the UK quitting the union in March 2019.

EU leaders are refusing to give the go-ahead to trade talks at next week’s October summit, with the decision expected to be postponed until at least December.

EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier blamed the “deadlock” on British failure to make further pledges on a multi-billion pound “divorce bill”, as well as on EU citizens rights and the border between Northern Ireland and Ireland.

Experts believe Germany is reluctant to move forward because of its determination to preserve EU unity and German Chancellor Angela Merkel still being focused on having to build a Coalition government.

While France is seen as pushing for a bigger “divorce bill” to be paid by the UK and at the same time trying to lure banking jobs from the City.

However, Mr Hands, who himself previously worked for a French bank, said: “When it comes to Brexit talks, its strongly in both sides interests to get on with it and to move to talking about our future trade relations.

“London remains the No1 financial centre for Europe. I expect that to be the case after Brexit.”

But he added: “This is no time for complacency.

“London needs to make sure its offer to financial services is robust and enduring.”

Senior Conservative MP Bob Neill, chairman of the all-party parliamentary group on France, added: “There is evidence of France trying to drive a hard bargain and they do have an eye on getting jobs out of London.

“That’s a mistake and a shame,” he added, arguing that financial jobs were far more likely to go to New York than Paris or Frankfurt if Brexit goes badly.

However, Mr Le Maire, who has been holding talks with business chiefs in Paris on how to “ramp up” efforts to make the French capital the leading financial centre on the Continent. is taking a tough stance on the UK splintering away.

“They can no longer pretend to have the benefits of the membership within the European Union without being a member of European Union anymore,” he said on the sidelines of the annual meetings of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund last night.

“It is a historic mistake and that the consequences of the Brexit will be bad consequences for British people.”

Meanwhile, British nuclear companies are reportedly preparing to relocate outside the UK over a lack of Government clarity on how their industry will survive after Brexit.

According to Sky News some big UK firms want to move their nuclear material and components sector to Europe because they anticipate legal barriers emerging after Britain leaves the EU.

Downing Street played down reports that the Withdrawal Bill was being delayed because of the threat of revolts by Tory MPs after hundreds of amendments were tabled to the controversial bill which will transpose EU legislation into UK law.

The scale of Brexit was laid bare by Whitehall reportedly planning to recruit 2,000 more staff to deal with the UK quitting the EU.