Albanian youngsters are being bullied in schools following headlines over the numbers crossing the Channel in small boats, according to the country's ambassador to the UK.

Qirjako Qirko made the claim at a meeting of MPs on the Home Affairs select committee today.

He said the discrimination “should stop immediately” and that he received reports on a daily basis about the problem.

“There are people - especially young people - who are bullied in their schools, only because they are Albanians," he told the MPs.

Since May, there has been a significant rise in crossings from Calais to Kent by Albanians on small boats, accounting for 42% of the total of 11,102 arriving.

The ambassador faced questions about what was driving the increase - but repeatedly said he did not know, alleging the Home Office did not provide the figures.

He told the committee this year a new agreement was struck between the two countries to tackle the problem of criminal gangs trafficking people.

But when asked what accounted for the increase, he said: “Officially, we have no information regarding this number.

"We do not know if they are Albanians or from other countries or travelling from European countries.”

Asked if he felt the Albanian government should make a financial contribution to the UK’s costs of supporting those who crossed the Channel, he said “no…it is not the responsibility of our government.”

The MP chairing the hearing Diana Johnson persisted, saying it was widely reported that about 35% of illegal crossings were from Albania.

The ambassador said he could not comment on the figures. However, he said the way to reduce crossings was to have a legal agreement with the UK permitting managed migration.

Meanwhile, a leading academic expert said she did not believe the rhetoric around the numbers crossing.

Dame Sarah Thornton, professor of practice in modern slavery policy, said it was partly a result of confusion about the Modern Slavery Act.

She said: “In 2021, the number of people taken in under the NRM [National Referral Mechanism] under the slavery legislation was 1,099 compared to 28,000 and, of that, Albanians were 108 - about 4%.”