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Published: 9:43 AM November 16, 2018 Updated: 8:45 AM September 18, 2020

France's finance minister has launched an attack on the 'liars' that tricked voters into thinking leaving the EU would be easy and in their interests.

In a strongly worded attack on Brexiteers, Bruno Le Maire said Brexit was a 'historic mistake' and he hopes that if the UK does leave the EU that it will rejoin in the next 15 years.

Speaking to CNBC, he said: 'I think many British politicians have been liars and lied to British people by explaining that it was simple to go out of the European Union without having strong negative consequences on the current daily life of the British people.'

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Le Maire also warned that Brexiteers would 'pay' for forcing the country into the wrong choice.

He said: 'When you are lying to the people, there always comes a moment when you have to pay and explain to people that it wasn't a right choice.'

'Now you are before the truth and the truth is that going out of the European Union, going out of the EU's single market, going out of one of the most important economic markets of the world is a mistake with very strong negative consequences.'

He added: 'The truth is Brexit could end with a nightmare.'

The finance minister said it was the UK's soverign choice if chooses to leave, but he hoped it would rejoin again if it happens.

'If you want to go out, you go out, that's your sovereign decision, even if you regret it.'

'I hope in 15 years British people will realise that it is in their interest to go back to the European Union.'