The BBC has dismissed a fresh set of complaints of pro-UK government bias by Scots presenter Andrew Marr.

Nearly 200 complaints were made about the December 13 edition of The Andrew Marr Show - raising concerns that the presenter appeared to be defending the government over Brexit while interrupting former Labour leader Ed Milliband too much.

At one point the Glasgow-born journalist and author described as "mealy mouthed" Mr Milliband's comment that Labour would have to look at the detail of any trade deal with the EU before deciding to fully support it.

It comes after the publicly-funded broadcaster dismissed complaints of bias by Mr Marr against the First Minister Nicola Sturgeon in what was one of the most complained-about shows of the year.

READ MORE: BBC dismiss complaints of Andrew Marr 'bias' against Nicola Sturgeon in interview

The complaints related specifically to the First Minister’s appearance on The Andrew Marr Show on November 29 in which the Scots presenter suggested there was a "gap" between reality and her public claims about both the Alex Salmond scandal, her government's coronavirus record and the state of education in Scotland.

The Herald:

Andrew Marr, the Glasgow-born journalist and author, presented an attitude towards the First Minister which some compared to an “attack dog” who was aiming not for a political interview but a “character assassination”.

Complaints to the BBC compared what some described as an "aggressive confrontational attitude" to both Mr Miliband and Irish Taoiseach Micheál Martin while having an "acquiescent" attitude to foreign secretary Dominic Raab.

On the show, in an exchange with the Mr Milliband who had said a no deal Brexit would be a "disastrous outcome" Mr Marr asked if Boris Johnson could guarantee Labour support if he came to the House of Commons with a deal.

When the shadow business secretary responded that the detail would have to be looked at, Mr Marr responded: "No, no, no. You've just said no deal is the worst possible outcome, therefore if a deal comes back you must vote for it."

But the BBC has insisted that it did not consider Mr Milliband was treated an differently to other guests on the show.

The public service broadcaster said: "Each interview is different and Andrew Marr seeks to challenge each guest on their arguments, using facts and other points of view to test what they say.

"This approach was very clear in the interview with the Shadow Business Secretary who was closely questioned on topics including Labour’s position if a deal does come back, where compromises can be made to strike a deal and the impact that would have on the UK.

"We don’t agree that the approach taken was biased or unfair. Ed Miliband was given plenty of time to make his points.

"The interview with the Foreign Secretary, Dominic Raab, displayed the same level of scrutiny with its focus on the impact of leaving the transition period without a trade deal on security, on trade and on food prices.

"Mr Marr reminded Mr Raab of promises made while he was on the campaign committee of the Vote Leave campaign and then closely questioned whether those promises had been kept.

"No two interviews will ever be the same. However, we don’t consider Mr Marr treated Mr Miliband any differently to the other guests on the programme."

In another segment of the show, Mr Marr asked Mr Milliband if he would accept being tied to the single market in perpetuity in order to get a deal.

The senior Labour MP said: "I want us to have high minimum standards on workers rights and the environment. What do we have to fear?"

The BBC host fired back: "You sound as if you would accept the EU demands on the so-called ratchet clauses.

"That means if the UK diverges from the EU on standards, there would be fast, punitive tariffs piled onto us."

When Mr Miliband said Labour "didn't know whether that is the proposal," Mr Marr replied: "That is the proposal!"

The BBC host added: "You are giving me a speech and I want an answer.

"Would Labour accept a certain loss of British sovereignty today to get a deal?"

The shadow business secretary responded: "You are taking their frame. I don't accept the sovereignty argument, Andrew.

"It's our national interest to get a deal."

In another interview on the programme, the Taoiseach insisted that it would be a failure if the EU and UK were not able to broker a Brexit deal but BBC Andrew Marr questioned his comments.

He said: "You imply very strongly the EU is doing everything it can to get a deal and yet Boris Johnson asked for meetings with Angela Merkel in Berlin and Emmanuel Macron in Paris and then asked for phone calls with them and all of that was refused.

"We remember when your predecessor Mr Varadkar had a meeting face to face with Boris Johnson.

"This doesn't feel like the EU is trying to get a deal."

Mr Martin replied: "I don't think that's a fair assessment of the situation in terms of the Northern Ireland protocol and the withdrawal agreement."

"The British-Irish relationship is central post-Brexit as well because I was a member of the government that brought in the Good Friday Agreement."

As of December 10, the BBC’s figures reported that 161 complaints were received relating to “bias against SNP" in the earlier interview with First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.

Strictly Come Dancing received 141 complaints from people who felt it was “inappropriate for male professional dancers to be dressed in drag for the opening dance”, while Have I Got News For You received 105 complaints for “offensive humour”.

Some 177 complaints were made about the Andrew Marr show featuring Mr Milliband.