But the Home Secretary dismissed claims Brexit was “responsible for the boats”, adding that Brussels had replaced the Dublin Agreement hailed by Sir Keir.

Ms Mahmood told the Home Affairs Select Committee: “I would just dispute whether Dublin actually worked as was intended.

“I mean, the EU have now themselves created a new pact because their own arrangements were not working as intended, so I would think it’s a bit of a stretch to – I’m sure there’s lots of other debate to be had about the rights and wrongs of Brexit, but is Brexit responsible for the boats?

“I don’t think that’s true.”

And Ms Mahmood sparked alarm when she repeatedly refused to say if she was confident Channel migrants would fall this year.

Some 41,472 migrants crossed the Channel last year, up from 36,566 in 2024.

She told the Home Affairs Select Committee: “Those numbers are obviously not where I want to be either.

“This is an issue of deep concern in my own constituency and my city as well, so I fully hear what you and your constituents are saying, and it’s exactly where I am as well.

“These are unacceptable and the numbers need to come down. What I would say is this is a fiendishly difficult problem to resolve.”

The MP for Birmingham Ladywood said there was no “silver bullet” and the problem required “long-term, careful, painful work” to resolve “every bit”.

Asked whether she could confidently say numbers would go down by this time next year, she said: “I would love to be in that position. I can’t guarantee I’m going to be in that position.

“That’s because the measures will take some time to come into effect. We will legislate at the earliest opportunity to change the appeal system, to further restrict the way that Article 8 of the Human Rights Act is interpreted.

“There is a whole range of legislative changes that we have announced, which we are working at pace to draft and get right before we pass them in a Bill – that all necessarily does take some time.”