Complaints against BBC's Nick Robinson over indyref Salmond spat finally quashed

The BBC Editorial Complaints Unit had concluded that Mr Robinson 's reports of the conference on News at Six and News at Ten on BBC One which said Mr Salmond did not answer a question put to him relating to tax implications of a possible relocation of RBS to London in the event of a yes vote gave an inaccurate impression but did not amount to an intentional attempt to mislead and that there was no bias.

But complainers appealed that stance, saying the reports ignored Mr Salmond's lengthy response to Mr Robinson and that footage was edited in a way that was biased against the former First Minister.

A review by trustees over one complaint that the reports went further than just being misleading, has been thrown out and the BBC Trust has confirmed no further action is being taken on the complaints.

The complaint said that it went to the "very heart of BBC impartiality and balance reporting and it is important if the BBC's integrity is to be maintained".

But the BBC Trust's Complaints and Appeals Board panel agreed that a final appeal was "out of time" as it came beyond a 20 working day period stipulated in the complaints procedure and it would be a "disproportionate use of resources" for the ECU and the trust committee to consider the matter again.

"The panel did not consider that it was appropriate, proportionate or cost effective to take this matter on appeal as it did not raise a matter of substance and it did not have a reasonable prospect of success," said a report on the review.

It has further emerged an earlier attempt to get an appeal over the ECU stance, after 43 complained about the reports, failed as the trust adviser did not consider they had a "reasonable prospect of success".

The adviser agreed with the ECU which felt that if the soon-to-be presenter of Today on BBC Radio 4 knew he was giving an inaccurate account of events, he would also have been aware that that he would be exposed as soon as unedited footage was in circulation "setting himself up to be discredited".

The adviser said Mr Robinson's assertion that Mr Salmond did not answer the question put to him, was a matter of "professional judgement" and "did not in itself imply bias".

There was also agreement with the ECU's view that the key parts of Mr Salmond's longer reponse to the question was "reported in detail" along with his claim that the Treasury had been caught ‘redhanded as part of a campaign of scaremongering’ and his call for an inquiry into the leaking of market-sensitive information.

The adviser concluded that the combination of the elements of Mr Robinson's script explaining Mr Salmond’s position, the three clips of former First Minister speaking and the way the various issues were analysed in the other reports across the whole programme meant that the coverage was "duly impartial".

The decision report says: "She therefore considered that Trustees would be likely to conclude that the broad complaint that the report was biased against the Yes campaign did not have a reasonable prospect of success and she did not propose to put it before Trustees."

A review of the adviser's decision put to Trustees also failed as they also did "not consider that the appeal had a reasonable prospect of success".

The controversial news report begins by talking about Salmond's "confidence despite a steady drumbeat of warnings on the economic risks of independence".

The report explains that four banks are moving their Scottish bases to England and a series of high street retailers warned of a "possible impact" on prices in their stores of operating across a new border.

It showed Mr Robinson ask Salmond a question directly asking: "Why should a Scottish voter believe you, a politician, against men who are responsible for billions of pounds of profits."

The footage cuts away to a shot of Salmond as seen within a camera viewer with Mr Robinson interjecting: "He didn't answer. But he did attack the reporting of those in what he called the metropolitan media."

The report goes on to make clear that he read out a letter from the chief executive of the Royal Bank of Scotland about its decision to move its registered headquarters to London which said it was "not our intention to move operations or jobs".

Mr Robinson says: "Mr Salmond said there'd be no loss of tax revenues either, it was simply a matter of shifting brass plates.

"Waving the BBC story, he says there should be an official inquiry into the Treasury for what he said was the leaking of market sensitive information. Attack, he clearly thinks, is the best form of defence."

The report shows Mr Salmond saying: "They have now been caught red-handed as being part of a campaign of scaremongering... "

Unedited audio of the conference shows that Mr Robinson's question to Mr Salmond at the press conference was far longer.

He said: "Are you suggesting the decision by RBS has no consequence, or do you accept that by moving their base to London, tax revenues would move to London, in other words, Scottish taxpayers would have to make up the money they would lose from RBS moving to London.

"And on a more general point, John Lewis's boss says prices could go up, Standard Life's boss says money would move out of Scotland, BP's boss says oil will run out."

He then asks the question that was broadcast in his bulletin.

Mr Salmond then gives a near seven minute response saying: "Firstly can I just correct you on a factual point, Nick. Corporation tax does not depend on registered office but on economic activity."

He then went on to read out a statement to staff from the then chief executive of RBS which said any move of the registered headquarters was a "technical procedure" and there was no intention to move operations or jobs.

Towards the end of Mr Salmond's answer Mr Robinson tells Salmond to "answer the question" as the former First Minister looks for others to provide questions, and asks if there was any tax consequence to any RBS move.

Salmond replies: "I've answered that, Nick. Nick, it's been a lively campaign, heckling at many meetings across Scotland, this is the first opportunity the BBC have had to heckle at a meeting. "I've answered you. Corporation tax is based on economic activity, not on your registered office.

He concluded that he felt he had given a "reasonably comprehensive answer".

VIDEO: The full Nick Robinson and Alex Salmond question and answer session.