More than two dozen complaints have been made to Ofcom about an SNP broadcast for the European elections, which failed to mention Europe or the EU.
Notes of concern to the broadcasting regulator about the short film, which focused entirely on the independence referendum, included claims it broke guidelines and was “racist”.
Scottish Liberal Democrat MEP George Lyon slammed the party for the video, although the SNP hit back by branding him “desperate”.
Ofcom guidelines state: “The purpose of a PEB (Party Election Broadcast) must not be to promote any particular outcome of a referendum.”
However, a spokesman for the regulator said the April 22 film, shown on the BBC and ITV, did not break any rules as it was outwith the “referendum period”, which begins on May 30.
He said: “Therefore, there would be no issue with the SNP PEB broadcast last week, or with other PEBs from other parties that might be promoting the outcome of the Scottish independence referendum that might be broadcast before May 22.”
He added: “There were complaints from persons who were not Scottish by birth but who were living in Scotland who felt the content of the PEB was racist.”
The film chronicles a girl from birth to becoming a teenager and argues independence would be best for her future by contrasting grainy, black and white shots of Westminster and its politicians with brightly coloured images of Scotland.
Mr Lyon said: “Alex Salmond is happy to talk about Scotland when he is in Europe but he does not seem to want to talk about Europe when he is in Scotland.
“I am sure that those who watched the broadcast for the EU elections will be puzzled about why the SNP can’t bring themselves to stop talking about independence and start talking about Europe.
“Whether we are talking about the Scottish jobs our place in the EU supports, it is clear we can achieve more when we work together.
An SNP spokesman replied: “This is desperate stuff from the Lib Dems who are clearly in a panic over their prospects at the coming election.
“While the First Minister was in Bruges this week delivering a keynote speech on Scotland’s vital contribution to the European Union, the Lib Dems’ only Scottish MEP was in Brussels trying to find out what resettlement expenses defeated MEPs receive the contrast could not be clearer.”