A Labour government would give points for contribution to society in social housing decisions.

Local councils would be required under a government led by Ed Miliband to allocate social housing on the basis of not only need but also the applicant's contribution to society.

He will tell the Labour conference in his big set-piece speech today that choices have to be made when there is a housing shortage, and that the 'person who contributes to their society' should not be treated the same as the person who doesn't.

Local councils would be required to take into account whether people are working, look after their property and are good neighbours.

This change would be part of a potentially highly-controversial strategy to create a society 'based on a different set of values' and in which companies as well as individuals would be treated differently by government authorities depending on an official view taken of their lives and operations.

Mr Miliband will differentiate between 'wealth creators' and 'asset strippers' in his approach to companies - with Rolls Royce being given last night as an example of the former and the Southern Cross residential care company an illustration of the latter.

'They've been taxed the same, regulated the same, treated the same, celebrated the same', he will say before adding: 'They won't be by me.'