Britain will be the “big losers” if there is a no deal Brexit, Jean-Claude Juncker has warned.

The British government was pretending that the EU would be just as harmed by the disorderly Brexit on October 31, the president of the European Commission said.

“If it comes to a hard Brexit, this is in no one's interest, but the British would be the big losers. They pretend it's not like that, but it will be,” he said in an interview with an Austrian newspaper, which was published on Saturday.

Mr Juncker insisted that the EU was prepared for no deal, despite accusations from some in Britain that Brussels would be caught on the hop on Halloween.

“We are at maximum preparation, though some British authorities say we are not well prepared for a no-deal. But I do not participate in this summer game. We are prepared and I hope the British are too,” he said.

Mr Juncker added, “Secretly, of course, I hope that we do not need a no-deal.”

The veteran politician, who steps down on November 1 the day after a possible no deal Brexit, said the EU would never agree to renegotiate the Withdrawal Agreement.