Michael Martin has used his farewell speech as Speaker to attack failures to reform the MPs' allowances system.
Mr Martin, the first Commons speaker to be ousted in over 300 years, gave his address after presiding over his last Prime Minister's Questions in the job.
The 63-year-old Glaswegian told MPs it was "deeply disappointing" that MPs did not vote to change the allowances system when they had the opportunity in 2008.
He said: "I wish that party leaders would have shown then some of the leadership that they have shown now."
The crisis, revealed after details were leaked to the Daily Telegraph, had caused an "understandable loss of public trust and confidence in us all" and he had seen "nothing like it" in his 30 years as an MP.
Following his last Prime Minister's questions time, Mr Martin said: "Let me say to the men and women of this country - I am sorry. But also let me remind this House that it passed up an opportunity of dealing with this emotive issue less than a year ago."
The Members' Estimate Committee had produced a "blunt and straightforward" report with 18 recommendations that was presented to the House in July 2008.
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RESOURCES
Michael Martin: From shop steward to Speaker
The Speaker - a historical perspective
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Mr Martin said: "The response from this House was deeply disappointing. Half of the Members did not attend to vote and more than half of those who did vote rejected the proposals. I regretted that then, I deeply regret it now and I expect that many Members of this House now share my regret."
The recommendations would not have solved "every difficulty" but would have ended many practices for which MPs had been "attacked" in recent weeks, he said. "I wish that party leaders would have shown then some of the leadership that they have shown now."
His speech, which preceded tributes from party leaders, received a 30-second bout of applause from across the House, with a handful of MPs getting to their feet.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown offered "heartfelt thanks" on behalf of the whole House for Mr Martin's "long and dedicated service to Parliament".
He said the Speaker's background, rising up from the streets of Glasgow to high office, was "an inspiring story of commitment and determination in the service of your community, your party, this Parliament and our nation".
It "tells of a man both of unique parliamentary abilities and of dedication, self-belief and tireless hard work", Mr Brown said.
Mr Brown continued: "This is a Speaker who returned to his constituency every weekend to meet the people he represented and who has never forgotten where he came from, always determined to hear what they had to say to him. A Speaker who because he worked his way up with no special privileges accorded to him can encourage and inspire young people in the same position to do the same."
David Cameron, Leader of the Opposition, praised Mr Martin for his service to the Commons and to his constituents.
Running through a list of positions held by Mr Martin, he said: "It is a remarkable record of distinguished service, matched only by the huge dedication that you have shown to your constituency in Glasgow starting from your period as a councillor.
"As the Prime Minister said, your life story is inspiring - not just to people in this House, not just to people in Glasgow - but to people up and down our country."
Mr Cameron also highlighted Mr Martin's "decency and kindness" and "approachability", and offered personal thanks and those on behalf of his party.
Mr Martin dramatically announced in May that he would be stepping down after nine years as Speaker, following the scandal that revealed the full extent of controversial allowances in Parliament. He said he had decided to relinquish the post so that "unity can be maintained" in the Commons.
By convention he will also step down as an MP, forcing a by-election in his Glasgow North East constituency. A new Speaker will be elected on Monday from a field of 10 candidates.
The most recent case of a Speaker being forced out was in 1695 when Sir John Trevor was expelled from the Commons after being found guilty of accepting a bribe.
