The pay packages of the UK's 100 top company bosses rose 7% last year to an average £2.6m (€3m), in a year when the country's average wage stayed flat and the UK stock market lost almost a third of its value - illustrating why shareholder anger at executive compensation has flared up in recent weeks.

In terms of relationship breakdown between big companies and their senior investors, 2009 is already the joint worst year on record. Four companies have lost shareholder votes approving their remuneration reports, equalling 2005 - and this year's voting season is not over yet.