The Royal Bank of Scotland has defended the way its top bosses are awarded after some shareholders criticised the lender for not making deeper cuts to pay.

A leading UK-based shareholder advisory group has recommended investors vote against resolutions at the annual general meetings of Guinness parent company, Diageo, and Ryanair.

Protesters calling for the resignation of BSkyB chairman James Murdoch gathered outside the company’s annual general meeting today.

James Murdoch will face calls to resign as chairman of BSkyB at the satellite broadcaster's annual meeting tomorrow amid fears his links to the phone hacking inquiry at News Corporation will damage the company's reputation.