The British cabinet office minister who is leading the Brexit talks between the government and the Labour party has said discussions on a compromise deal will continue this week, but they cannot be allowed to drag out for too long.
Speaking on the BBC's The Andrew Marr Show, David Lidington, said a programme of meetings has been agreed for next week between ministers and shadow ministers to discuss issues such as environmental standards, workers rights and the future relationship between the UK and the EU.
"They're not going to go on for months, they're certainly going to continue next week," he said.
"I don't think this question can be allowed to drag out for much longer, I think the public rightly wants politicians to get on and deal with it."
The two sides will take stock of where the talks are when the House of Commons returns from its Easter recess.
He said that the question cannot be allowed drag out for too long and they will not go on for months.
Mr Lidington said that both sides want a future relationship with the EU where there are no tariffs on EU-UK trade, no quotas, and no rules of origin checks.
He said it is possible to get the benefits of the customs but still have the flexibility for the UK to pursue an independent trade policy with other countries.
He the Labour party has a different approach, and there will need to be movement from both sides on customs union policy if an agreement is to be reached.
Mr Lidington said the British government is still against a second referendum.
"The government's position has not changed. We think the public came to a clear view in 2016 with all parties saying your decision will be final," he said.
He said that a referendum has been voted on and defeated in recent House of Commons votes.
Earlier, Labour MP David Lammy was asked if his party and the government could come together around a customs union version of Brexit.
"I am not sure we are easily going to get a breakthrough because it is important to understand that a customs union is a hard Brexit," he said.
He said that Conservative MPs are deeply concerned that by remaining in the customs union, Britain will not be able to do its own trade deals.
He added: "I am a little bit worried that the EU in future will be determining trade deals and we won't really have a say."
He said there needs to be a compromise and the majority of parliamentary Labour party will not accept a deal if there is not a confirmatory referendum.
He said there is a mood in his party to accept the deal that emerges as long as it is put to a referendum.
