An advertising guru who has advised the Labour Party in four elections has predicted a Yes vote if a referendum on the euro is held before the next election.

Chris Powell, the brother of Jonathan Powell, the prime minister's chief of staff, said a suspicious public would be persuaded by a "powerful" and "skilful" pro-euro campaign.

In an introduction to a pamphlet entitled "Winning from behind", produced by the Britain in Europe campaign, he argues: "A majority will naturally plump for no change where they haven't given the subject much thought, but only a third are unreachably opposed. Difficult but not impossible."

An ICM poll in today's Guardian finds that 62 per cent of voters are against entry while 29 per cent are in favour. Some 45 per cent are "certain" to vote against.

Six Cabinet ministers attended meetings with the prime minister and chancellor on the euro yesterday. Six more are due today and the rest tomorrow.

Tonight Gordon Brown will tell the CBI in London that Britain is part of Europe by history, geography and economics - and can be a leader in the EU.

Meanwhile, Bill Rammell, the Foreign Office minister, has warned that Far East investors could pull out of Britain unless they get a clear signal that the government is preparing to enter the single currency.

Today's Express reports that Charles Clarke has been marked down as a potential chancellor after showing mastery of the economic arguments on the euro during his meeting at Downing Street.