By Rob Stanworth

A large majority of the public think that top bosses should have their pay reined in.

A survey by ICM, commissioned by the High Pay Centre, found that just seven per cent of people think a salary over £1 million-a-year was fair.

Furthermore, over two-thirds think that there should be "binding powers" put in place which would give shareholders the opportunity to block pay packages and bonuses for executives of companies.

Deborah Hargreaves, from the High Pay Centre, said: "Top executive pay and the behaviour of business are issues at the heart of the current public debate about how we rebuild our economy. Our polling shows the public do not believe executives, even of the biggest companies, should be awarded multi-million-pound pay packages."

She added that boardrooms should think about what is fair and how they can rebuild the public's trust in them.

The survey comes in the wake of Royal Bank of Scotland chief executive being urged to waive his bonus of nearly £1 million, which would almost double his salary.