More than 860 immigrants enter Britain EVERY DAY - and two-thirds come from outside EU

Official statistics reveal that the immigrant population has leapt by almost 2.4million since Labour came to power a decade ago.

They were released as the Government faced accusations of "fiddling the figures" after claiming the number of migrants from outside the EU was over half.

The figures show an increase of 316,000 immigrants - or 865 a day - for 2006 alone, the latest period for which figures are available.

At the same time, 715,000 British citizens have packed their bags and left - including 126,000 in 2006.

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Welcome to Britain: 865 immigrants arrive every day but 715,000 British citizens have packed their bags and left

With one in ten residents now born abroad, the result is a dramatic change to the face of British society.

The figures were broken down by the Office for National Statistics in a bid to settle the row over where the bulk of new arrivals are coming from.

Normally, the focus is placed on "net migration" - the difference between the number of all people arriving in Britain, and those who are leaving.

The total - which was 191,000 in 2006 - includes British citizens returning from long-trips abroad or who are emigrating.

As a result, it masks the dramatic changes in the foreign population.

But once Britons are removed, the full details of the unprecedented wave of immigration from overseas is laid bare.

In total, 2,337,000 more foreigners have arrived since 1997 than have left - increasing the overseas-born population by 640 every day.

The figure also only takes into account legal immigrants, meaning the true rate of immigration would be even higher.

Shadow Immigration Minister, Damian Green, said: "It is clear there are huge pressures on public services because of the sheer scale of the rising population. Ministers are foolish to ignore this growing problem."

Immigration Minister Liam Byrne said: "The British public want sweeping changes to our border security and that's exactly what we're delivering throughout 2008.

"Our new Australian-style points based system will ensure only the people Britain needs can come here and work. Our world-leading electronic borders programme will allow us to track those coming in and out of the country and compulsory ID cards for foreign nationals will give us certainty about who is here."

One of the Government's most senior advisers today also warned that the south-east of England is at risk of over-crowding unless immigration is reduced.

Lord Turner launched a scathing attack on claims made by ministers and business chiefs that large-scale immigration can be justified on economic grounds.

He accused them of using such arguments, despite knowing they do not stak up, to justify an inevitable influx of newcomers and avoid a "racist backlash".

The former CBI director general, has submitted his analysis to a Lords inquiry on immigration.

Advocating a stable population as more favourable to the wellbeing of people in Britain, he concludes: "The simple answer to the question 'Do we need more immigrants and babies?' is no."

He believes welfare issues linked to a growing population - such as disappearing green spaces, housing shortages and transport congestion - will have a significantly greater impact than the economic benefits of immigration.

The Governnment's immigration policy was already under fire for after its claim that the proportion of migrants from outside the EU was just over half was scotched.

The conclusion follows months of arguments between the Government and the Migrationwatch pressure group.

In a parliamentary debate, Immigration Minister Liam Byrne claimed only 52 per cent of migrants to the UK were from countries outside the EU, such as Africa and the Commonwealth.

But the independent Statistics Commission said this figure included Britons returning from long trips abroad, such as backpacking holidays.

When they were removed, the percentage of new arrivals from non-EU countries was 68 per cent.

The figure is crucial in the political debate over control of Britain's borders.

Ministers have no control over free movement within the EU - but can limit the number of visas and work permits given out to people from the rest of the world.

Migrationwatch chairman Sir Andrew Green said: "We can understand they want to play down the numbers of non-EU immigrants because, if they are made to appear relatively unimportant, it lets them off the hook of taking effective action.

"These figures prove more than two-thirds come from outside the EU and there could be a substantial reduction if the Government had the will to do it."

Mr Green said: "Yet again the Government has been caught out trying to fiddle the figures.

"This would be laughable if it weren't so serious."

It is the second time the Statistics Commission has embarrassed the Government in recent months.

The commission also said 1.4 million workers born abroad had taken jobs in Britain since 1997, making up 81 per cent of the 1.7million new jobs for people of working age.

A row broke out when then Work and Pensions Secretary Peter Hain insisted only 800,000 foreign nationals had taken jobs.

He was later forced to change the figure to 1.1 million.

Home Office chief statistician David Blunt leapt to Mr Byrne's defence.

He said: "The minister was simply reporting the fact that the Total Immigration Statistics - published in November 2006 - showed that 89,000 of the total net migration flow to the UK of 185,000 in 2005 was accounted for by other EU countries.

"We have more recently quoted gross figures because they better illustrate the arguments about caps."