This is quite an extraordinary thing to have happened.

But it’s not the only one.

It seems a curious way to dispel SNP supporters’ belief that the BBC is biased against their party to have two of its most senior political journalists, Scottish Labour and the Guardian all openly ganging up to attack it in the space of a couple of days. As noted by the SNP-backing but hyperbole-averse blogger (and regular BBC pundit) Andrew Tickell, it’s distinctly unusual to have such starkly partisan comments made by serving reporters, not grandees safely out to pasture.

The comments all but amount to a declaration of war. As an MP it’s well within Salmond’s remit to express opinions and even try to exert pressure, but supposedly impartial reporters are meant to remain aloof. Defending themselves against criticism is fair enough, but Robinson’s behaviour is akin to trolling, and for Naughtie to have misrepresented the situation so blatantly – Salmond responded to Robinson reopening hostilities, not the other way around – is remarkably provocative.

Nationalists will need no second invitation to question Naughtie’s neutrality, and Robinson’s Tory sympathies are hardly a secret. And this site has long noted that it’s unreasonable to expect journalists – who are human and vote like everyone else – to be unbiased. The most viewers can ever ask is that media correspondents display their leanings openly (as this site does) so that viewers and listeners can put their broadcasts into perspective accordingly.

We therefore welcome Nick Robinson and James Naughtie’s remarks in that spirit. Scottish Labour, sucking up to teacher, should simply be embarrassed.