A FORMER Lewes MP has demanded that no public money be used to bail out Prince Andrew for his "shenanigans" after he settled a controversial civil sexual assault claim.

Norman Baker said it would be "outrageous" if the taxpayer were forced to pay for the Duke of York's settlement, amid growing calls to disclose where the money to pay off his accuser came from.

Andrew agreed to make a “substantial donation” to his Virginia Giuffre’s charity after the pair agreed an undisclosed out-of-court settlement in her civil sex claim against him.

Writing in the Mirror, Mr Baker said the palace must reassure the taxpayer that no public funds were used to bail him out.

He said: "The Queen already pays out her annual support to the Royal Family from this source and offsets these payments against tax.

"If she bails out Andrew this way, that will in effect reduce her tax bill and mean the public purse is part-subsidising Andrew’s shenanigans.

"That is outrageous. We need a clear statement from the Palace that no public money will be used for a payoff.

"It is also high time the public accounts committee looked into the whole murky business of royal finances."

No detail has been disclosed with regard to the settlement and costs, but it has been reported that Prince Andrew has agreed to pay an eight-figure sum.

There has also been speculation the Queen might help with costs from her private funds.

The Daily Telegraph reported that a deal was agreed at the weekend following at least 10 days of negotiations between the two sides.

The newspaper said the total amount to go to Ms Giuffre and her charity exceeds £12 million, and reported that part will be paid by the Queen.

Buckingham Palace has declined to comment on Tuesday’s legal development, while Prince Andrew’s representatives also declined to say how the donation to Ms Giuffre’s charity would be funded.

The Argus: Prince Andrew Prince Andrew

Ms Giuffre, also known as Virginia Roberts, made a claim against Prince Andrew for damages in her home country of the US, claiming she was trafficked by Jeffrey Epstein to have sex with the royal when she was 17, a minor under US law.

The settlement agreement states that Prince Andrew will donate to Ms Giuffre’s charity in support of victims’ rights and that he has pledged to “demonstrate his regret for his association with Epstein” by supporting the “fight against the evils of sex trafficking, and by supporting its victims”.

Although the parties have settled the case, the agreement is not an admission of guilt from the duke and he has always strenuously denied the allegations against him.

In January, Buckingham Palace announced that Prince Andrew would be defending the case “as a private citizen”.

He receives a Royal Navy pension and the Queen is also thought to fund him from her £21.7 million a year Duchy of Lancaster income, but the figure she gives him is kept private.

An order published by US District Judge Lewis Kaplan in response to the settlement letter, stated that the “stipulation of dismissal” of the case must be filed by March 17, otherwise it “remains entirely possible that this action will be set for trial when previously indicated”.