UK euro entry is "in reach for the first time", according to private polling for Downing Street.

Amid the growing confidence of pro-euro ministers, Tony Blair's biggest barrier to a referendum victory is public disenchantment with government, according to confidential research "obtained" by the Telegraph.

Polling by the Labour-minded pollster GGC/NOP finds that a "milestone" has been reached on the road to Downing Street's aim of joining the European single currency.

"Yes" campaigners are still behind the "No" camp - on 41 per cent to 55 points.

But the legendary pollsters scent victory - an optimism reflected in various ministerial hints that a euro-vote could come as early as 2003.

"The fact that more than 40 per cent of the country is now prepared to vote 'yes' represents a kind of milestone," claims the study.

"We still trail significantly in the euro referendum but now seem in reach for the first time."

The gap narrows to just six points among those intending to vote in a national euro-poll, dropping to a much more marginal three points if Gordon Brown can confirm that his much-vaunted five economic tests have been met.

But the research also shows that Blair's biggest obstacle to a referendum triumph is public disengagement from politics in general and "pessimism" with his government's record in particular.

"People have a great deal of uncertainty and, increasingly, see less progress," finds the GGC/NOP report.

"A majority now thinks the country is headed in the wrong direction - a malady since the beginning of the year."

Results indicating the "class character" of euro-enthusiasm could combine with growing voter disengagement to herald the kind of seismic political shock experienced by France in recent weeks warn the pollsters.

"Like it or not, the 'Yes' is strongly aligned with the educated, cosmopolitan and cultural elites and the 'No' is associated with working class less-educated Britain."

It says that Blair must build a "new bond" with voters or face a devastating defeat if political disenchantment becomes harnessed to an anti-euro campaign, concludes the researchers.

"A new bond is a precondition for further gains. It is also necessary if we are to keep alienated and perhaps rebellious anti-euro voters form rushing back into the electorate and wrecking the referendum."