I just want to say I'm proud to work with you, mate, because you're doing it all for the right reasons

Wales Liberal Democrat leader, Lembit Opik, to Mike German

But in his speech to the party's spring conference in Llandudno in north Wales, the Welsh party's overall leader, Lembit Opik said: "I want to support Mike in a difficult time, that's what you do when your mates get hassle."

He added: "But the main reason I want to say it now, is because I don't like the fact he's been kept out of his job for so long when he's not done anything wrong."

Mr Opik's main message to the party faithful was that they should help him bring "vision and soul" back into politics.

The forward-looking theme of the speech echoed that of Mr German's, who on Saturday told party members he remained determined to return to Cardiff Bay and the Lib Dems' power-sharing government with Labour.

Mike German talked of his patience being "tested"

Mr Opik, who has criticised the media for the intensity its coverage of the police investigation, did not hold back in showing his commitment to his assembly counterpart.

He said: "I just want to say I'm proud to work with you, mate, because you're doing it all for the right reasons.

"And soon enough, this inquiry will end, and on that day, we'll have a big party and we'll invite Nelson Mandela, the Dalai Lama, and the Pope, just to make a point."

He then went on to talk about his vision for the future of politics, saying: "We must prove to the people of Wales that putting soul back into politics is much more than just talk.

"It's about practical solutions for Wales.

Charles Kennedy wants Lib Dems to promote the euro

"So, we're looking for heroes, heroes in the public who start to believe and work towards a society where people really do have the same access to health and an equal chance to education."

On Saturday, the party's UK leader, Charles Kennedy, spoke on the issue of Britain joining the single currency and said party members should "go out and sell the advantages of the euro".

He said: "We have to tell people about the extra jobs it will bring, the lower mortgages, the cheaper prices, the boost to trade, the savings made in currency transactions when you move from one European country to another."