Brussels could have interfered in this year's General Election as it has been reported Jean-Claude Juncker may have urged Theresa May to call it.

The President of the European Commission urged the Prime Minister to go to the polls early because a 17-seat majority would not be enough for the upcoming Brexit negotiations. He reportedly told the Conservative leader she might be able to exercise more muscle over the size of the UK's divorce bill if the Tories had a bigger majority in the House of Commons.

Despite this, Labour may be able to save the Government's Brexit plans

Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell has emerged as an unlikely saviour of Britain's EU exit in the face of the Conservatives' weakened majority.

Speaking to Robert Peston yesterday, he has vowed to pull Britain out of the EU's Single Market.

'Just do it'

The Observer revealed Mr Juncker said to Mrs May she should 'just do it' in reference to calling an early election.

A diplomat added that the EU wants a deal with Britain more than people realise.

The Tory leader called the snap general election in April because she believed an increased Conservative majority would strengthen Britain's hand in negotiations with the European Union.

Last month, during the election, the EU Commission's President visited the Prime Minister at Downing Street, which the German press reported signified a fractured relationship between the two. They also reported that EU officials and Mr Juncker were all surprised the Tory leader did not recognise the enormity of the task facing her.

'Living in another galaxy'

There have also been claims that he told German Chancellor Angela Merkel that the EU President believes she is 'living in another galaxy' if she thinks these negotiations would be simple.

At the time, Mrs May fought back and attacked the EU for interfering in the 2017 General Election.

She also accused many in Brussels of gossiping about Brexit.

Regardless of whether the allegation that MJuncker told the Prime Minister to call an early election is true, the Conservatives have found themselves with no majority in the House of Commons, which resulted in a hung parliament.

Since Friday Mrs May has been negotiating with a Northern Irish party called the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) to form a supply-in-confidence agreement to keep the Tories in power until 2022.

There are rumours circulating that the DUP is more in favour of a soft Brexit to ensure Britain's border with the Republic of Ireland remains open after the UK has left the EU.

This, many believe, could water down the UK's position in the Brexit negotiations, much to the annoyance of many in the Conservatives who want a free-trade deal with the EU and nothing else.

Despite this, the Government may pursue a 'hard' Brexit strategy if it has sufficient support from other parties in Parliament.

Since gaining increased support from UKIP voters during last Thursday's election, Mr McDonnell said he intends to withdraw Britain from the Single Market completely.

'Jobs-first Brexit'

Trying to build on his party's momentum, he said to ITV's Robert Peston that he wants to implement a 'jobs-first' Brexit.

This is despite many in the Tory Party believing Labour will renege on its stance on leaving the EU.

Former work and pensions secretary Iain Duncan Smith said Mr McDonnell is trying to position himself as tough on the EU to capture more votes from UKIP. But the Corbyn ally claims he respects the result of last year's EU Referendum where 52% of eligible voters backed leaving the EU.

He said if there is too much in-fighting between the Conservatives and the DUP over Brexit, Labour may well save the process altogether.

Prior to the shadow Chancellor's Peston interview, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said his party remains fully committed to pulling Britain out of the EU completely.

He has instead called for arrangements to be made where the UK can still trade with the Single Market.

This is despite his campaign pledge during last year's referendum that Britain is safer by remaining a member of the EU.