article_snippet: Immigrants arrived in Britain at the rate of almost one every minute during the ‘open door’ years under New Labour, a devastating audit reveals.
article_snippet: the publication of a comprehensive study by the think-tank MigrationWatch found that, through a combination of deliberate policies and ‘cock-up’, 7.23million immigrants were allowed to arrive in the UK – almost one every minute.
article_snippet: Factors behind the surge in arrivals included the relaxation of visa rules for non-EU workers, a five-fold rise in foreign students as bogus colleges flourished and an ‘amnesty’ for more than 200,000 asylum seekers and illegal immigrants.
article_snippet: Under Labour, Britain developed a reputation as a soft touch for asylum seekers – with gangs massing at Calais to try to leap aboard lorries or Eurostar trains.
article_snippet: Pictured, illegal immigrants attempt to board a lorry .
article_snippet: More than 220,000 failed and delayed asylum-seekers and migrants were granted permission to stay permanently from 2006 onwards in what was dubbed an effective amnesty.
article_snippet: Under Labour, Britain developed a reputation as a soft touch for asylum seekers – with gangs massing at Calais to try to leap aboard lorries or Eurostar trains.
highlights_snippet: Report found 7.23million immigrants were allowed to arrive in that time .
  
highlights_snippet: Relaxation of visas, bogus students and asylum seeker 'amnesty' blamed .