“If a hard Brexit happens it would be pretty devastating and it would be the biggest sort of shot in the foot that the British people have ever done to themselves,” Branson told CNBC on Thursday morning. “[I] hope that sense will prevail and that when all the facts are known and are on the table, I would hope that a second referendum could take place based on real facts.”

The business magnate made his comments ahead of Theresa May giving the EU formal notice and triggering Brexit on March 29.

“I just pray and hope that when all the facts are there … Then the British people can have the decision to decide because it was a complete false premise that a referendum was brought on in the first place,” Branson told CNBC.

A number of British members of Parliament are pushing for a second vote, according to CNBC — though it’s unlikely these efforts will succeed.