A theory's equations can generally be derived from an action along with a principle of least action ($\delta S=0$). The action is given by:
$$ S[f_1, f_2, ...]=\int_M \mathcal{L}(f_1, f_2, ..., g_1, g_2, ...) $$
where $S$ is a functional of $f_1, f_2, ...$, and is not a functional of $g_1, g_2, ...$. I call the $g_1, g_2, ...$ background objects. I have defined a theory to be background independent if the action $S$ used to derive its field equations cannot be defined in such as way as as to depend on no objects for which is it not a functional (i.e. it has no background objects $g_1, g_2, ...$).
A model of a theory is an ordered set $<$$M, A_1, A_2, ...$$>$ which represents a possible solution to the equations of the theory. A theory is diffeomorphism invariant if, for any solution to the equations of the theory $<$$M, A_1, A_2, ..., A_n, \rho$$>$, $<$$M, f^{\ast}A_1, f^{\ast}A_2, ..., f^{\ast}A_n, f^{\ast}\rho$$>$ is also a solution for any diffeomorphism $f$ ($f^{\ast}A_i$ is the drag-along under $f$ of $A_i$). The $A_1, A_2, ...$ are particular values of the $f_1, f_2, ... g_1, g_2, ...$ which solve the equations of the theory (i.e. for which $\delta S=0$ for infinitesimal variations around the $A_1, A_2, ...$ values).
I want to show that the background independence and diffeomorphism invariance of a theory are equivalent (i.e. that a theory is background independent if and only if it is diffeomorphism invariant). Here is my current attempt, but I am not sure if it is a rigorous proof (or if this statement is even definitely true!):
It is clear that, as I have defined the terms, a theory which is not background independent will generally not be diffeomorphism invariant, because a general diffeomorphism $f$ will not leave the absolute background objects invariant. This will only be the case for the subclass of diffeomorphisms for which $f^{\ast}A_i=A_i$ for all background objects $A_i$. Perhaps less obvious is the fact that a background independent theory will be diffeomorphism invariant. To see this, take some model of a background independent theory $<$$M, A_1, A_2, ..., A_n, \rho$$>$ (where all of the $A_i$ must not be background objects) and some diffeomorphism $h$. The action $S$ used to derive the field equations of the theory is given by:
$$ S[f_1, f_2, ...]=\int_M \mathcal{L}(f_1, f_2, ...) $$
where $A_1, A_2, ..., A_n, \rho$ are particular values of $f_1, f_2, ...$ that satisfy $\delta S=0$. This means that the value of $S$ doesn't change for infinitesimal variations around the $A_1, A_2, ..., A_n, \rho$ values. Since $f^{\ast}A_i(f(p)) \equiv A_i(p)$, and since $S$ is given by an integral over the entire manifold $M$, $S[A_1, A_2, ...]=S[f^{\ast}A_1, f^{\ast}A_2, ...]$. Moreover, since a diffeomorphism is smooth, an infinitesimal change to $f^{\ast}A_i$ corresponds to an infinitesimal change to $A_i$, and therefore, the value of $S$ will not change for infinitesimal variations around $f^{\ast}A_1, f^{\ast}A_2, ..., f^{\ast}A_n, f^{\ast}\rho$ either, and so these values for $f_1, f_2, ...$ also satisfy $\delta S=0$.
Any help would be much appreciated here!