A leading Green MEP in the European Parliament has become one of the first politicians to call for “rigid restrictions” on bankers’ bonuses in return for the crisis-easing measures handed out to the sector in recent weeks.

Sven Giegold, who is the lead spokesman for financial and economic policy for the Green group and a noted critic of the banking sector, was responding to several statements from European regulators in recent days, warning banks to be prudent with their spare cash.