ELSPA has told MCV that its visits to the annual conferences of the UK’s three biggest political parties is “a litmus test on how far the industry has come”.

The publishers’ body attended the Liberal Democrats conference in Bournemouth last month, and showed off video games including Wii Sports Resort to MPs, Lords and MEPs. Figures that visited ELSPA’s stand included Nick Clegg MP, Don Foster MP and former party leader Paddy Ashdown.

ELSPA also attended the Labour conference in Brighton last week, and will visit the Conservative Party gathering in Blackpool this week.

Health Secretary Alan Johnson (pictured) booked to see ELSPA in Brighton, alongside Tom Watson MP – who last month applauded the body’s lobbying campaign to see the PEGI system installed in UK law.

“The fact that the country’s Home Secretary wants to come and see what the industry has to offer is clearly great news,” ELSPA director general Mike Rawlinson told MCV.

“We put on a minor fringe event last year at the Labour conference and we only managed to get half a dozen MPs along. This year’s response is proving to be a good litmus test of just how far the industry and ELSPA has come in 12 months.”

ELSPA’s Annual General Meeting takes place on Friday, October 23rd at BAFTA, 192 Piccadilly, London. All members are invited to the meeting.