The Scottish Socialist Party is to have male and female joint leaders, following a decision at its annual conference yesterday.

Internal reforms for the far-left grouping approved a move to split the job which has been done by Colin Fox, a former MSP, for the past two years.

He has not said if he will put his name forward for the election of the leaders at the party's May council.

After the split with Tommy Sheridan and the Solidarity group, and after losing four MSPs at last year's election, the conference was largely taken up with party organisation.

A decision on its electoral strategy - whether to stand in next year's European elections and for Westminster - is set for a decision in May as well.

Mr Fox has already committed the party to focus its main effort on a comeback at the next Holyrood elections.

In his leadership speech to more than 120 members in Glasgow, he backed the calls for an independence referendum, and said that the prospect of a Conservative government at Westminster would have a major impact on politics in Scotland.

The party agreed to stage a day of action to highlight its commitment to making public transport free throughout Scotland, and Mr Fox stressed that its commitment to renewable energy was based on public ownership of wind farms and other projects to ensure community benefits.