Speaking just a few hours later, Ms Mahmood said: “The Dublin regulation, of which we were part; in our last five years in it, we did not deport as many people as we managed to under our agreement with France.”
During the final years of UK membership of the EU, Britain received 3,830 migrants under the Dublin Agreement compared to just 1,253 being transferred out.
Ms Mahmood was even more direct when it came to dismissing claims about Brexit fuelling a surge in small boat crossings earlier this year.
During an appearance at the Home Affairs Select Committee in February, Ms Mahmood said: “I’m sure there’s lots of other debates to be had about the rights and wrongs of Brexit.
“But is Brexit responsible for the boats? I don’t think that’s true.”
