French Economy and Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire | Eric Piermont/AFP via Getty Images France calls on ‘lying’ UK politicians to drop Brexit ‘Economically, Brexit can result in a nightmare,’ Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire says.

France’s economy minister on Friday said Brexit is leading Britain into "a nightmare" and called on "lying and irresponsible" Brexiteers to abandon their project or face economic meltdown.

At an event on global trade in Paris Friday, Bruno Le Maire said Brexit shows "that leaving the European single market simply has an exorbitant cost."

"Every people is free to decide to leave the single market and the European Union. But what Brexit shows is that the economic cost of leaving the single market is simply exorbitant and that there are many lying and irresponsible politicians, who in Great Britain have explained to the British people that Brexit would result in bright tomorrows.

"The truth is that, economically, Brexit can result in a nightmare."

Le Maire said it is time for Brexiteers to acknowledge their mistake and row back on Brexit. "The British politicians, who have argued for Brexit, now have a choice between reneging on their absurd political promise or an economic disaster of which the British people will be the first victim."

The French minister said that faced with a global trade war, Europe's single market is a "considerable strength and protection."

"We have a single market which is the largest commercial market in the world, which is our pride and our strength. And we want to defend this single market."