Gordon Brown continues to attempt to draw a line under the MPs' expenses scandal, saying he is "appalled" by the abuse shown by some ministers including a member of his Cabinet.

Mr Brown claimed he had been tougher than other party leaders on the issue, suspending two MPs from the Parliamentary Labour Party and asking Justice Minister Shahid Malik to step down from his job pending an inquiry.

And he did not rule out taking further action against Communities Secretary Hazel Blears, who avoided paying £13,000 in capital gains tax. Speculation is growing that Ms Blears' position is now untenable.

Gordon Brown at Prime Minister's Questions

The UK Government is setting out plans for independent regulators to take control of parliamentary pay and allowances. The move follows the dramatic resignation of Commons Speaker Michael Martin on Tuesday.

The Glasgow MP said he will step down from the chair on June 21, prompting an election for a new Speaker the following day. Mr Martin's departure will result in a by-election in his Glasgow North East constituency.

Mr Brown opened Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday by offering his thanks to the Speaker. He told the Commons that Mr Martin had an "outstanding" record of service to the House and to the country over 30 years.

Tory leader David Cameron said a general election was necessary to end the "paralysis" in government.

Mr Brown said that what would cause paralysis would be Conservative public service spending cuts.

Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg, who earlier called for the Speaker to quit, praised the "dignity" of Mr Martin's statement to stand down.

Earlier in the day, the Prime Minister shared both his anger and his plans to help return respect to the House of Commons.

Mr Brown, in a morning television appearance, said: "We will have a clean-up, we will have discipline, we will have a new system that takes it out of MPs' hands altogether."

He said that no longer would MPs be able to decide on their pay and how to discipline those who break the rules.

"There are many cases where people will be suspended and people will have to stand down and not be candidates at the next election."

He continued: "I am angry and I am appalled. If my father, my parents, thought that these things were going on in the House of Commons, they would be utterly appalled."

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Video: Extracts of Prime Minister's Questions  (May 20)

Video: Michael Martin announces expenses reforms  (May 19)

John Swinburne eyes Glasgow by-election run

Secret ballot to select next Speaker

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Mr Brown said Ms Blears' actions were "unacceptable".

"Hazel didn't break any rule or law. But what she did was unacceptable. She came to me, we talked about it and she paid back the money."

He admitted that it was "difficult" that a member of his Cabinet had been caught up in the scandal.

Pressed on the issue of whether Ms Blears should be sacked, Mr Brown said: "I have already suspended - I am the only party leader to have done so - I have suspended two Members of Parliament from the Parliamentary Labour Party, I have told a minister to step down because of difficulties and irregularities that have got to be investigated in his affairs.

"If it became necessary to do so for other people, I will not resist from doing so. We will take all the action that is necessary."

Mr Brown said: "I don't think you can satisfy the public now unless people know that someone independent has gone through it all and said 'look this is OK, this is not OK.

"The gentlemen's club has come to an end yesterday, we have got to have a decent system that respects the wishes of the public for the future."

After Prime Minister's Questions, Commons Leader Harriet Harman added her tribute to Mr Martin and pledged to arrange an occasion in the House for MPs to show their gratitude to the outgoing Speaker.

Outlining a series of tougher rules agreed by party leaders less than 24 hours before, Ms Harman told MPs it was time to "seize the opportunity" to strengthen democracy and fight back against "a problem of public disengagement, public cynicism and a public sense of distance from Parliament".

She said interim measures had been brought in to repair the reputation of the Commons and provide reassurance to both MPs and the public, and pledged to work towards renewal through a new set of permanent rules.

Shadow Commons leader Alan Duncan welcomed Ms Harman's statement to MPs, offering his party's co-operation to "try and sort this near constitutional crisis".

Under the interim measures MPs will no longer be able to finance cleaners, home improvements or massive mortgages using taxpayers' cash.

They will also be prevented from changing the designation of their second home during 2009-2010, and a monthly limit of £1,250 is to be placed on claims for mortgage interest, rent and hotel bills.