EU: a choice of "in or out"

Through Dan Hannan's blog, I came across this proposal from Douglas Carswell, MP for Harwich and Clacton:

"Should the United Kingdom remain a member of the European Union?" - that is the referendum question posed in my Private Members Bill published today, and which comes before the Commons at the end of this month.

Some say it can't be done. Read my Bill here. It could be achieved in the space of a single afternoon.

For a generation it's been left to the political elite and professional diplomats to decide our relations with Europe. Now it is time to give the people a direct say.

Rather than advocate reforms that never actually materialise, why not make it a choice between in or out?

After 30 years of supposed "influence", CAP lies unreformed. A corporatist market exists where we were promised a common market. Red tape and regulation stiffle free enterprise. External tariffs prevent free trade. Europe hasn't come our way - and never will. It's time for out.

Surely the only argument against such a referendum is fear of the outcome?