I promise not all of my blogs will feature a visit from a cabinet minister (as last week's also did). But I cannot pass by the event I held with Douglas Alexander, the international development secretary, in my constituency this week. In an event organised in tandem with local church groups and the Co-op party, we hosted a "fair trade afternoon tea" (coffee-morning style, but in the afternoon) to discuss international development.
Taking in place in Chorlton, Manchester's socially and politically progressive suburb, Alexander faced some tough and very well-informed questions. From developing an opium trade to assist Afghanistan's reconstruction (as Polly Toynbee suggested in the Guardian last week) to ensuring that governments spent aid properly, the questions came thick and fast.
I'm not just saying this: Alexander really impressed with his grasp of the issues and considered arguments. Believe me, this was no choreographed event.
What was most powerful, though, was the political context that he set out. That, as he put it, "people of conscience" had come together and enabled the Labour government to lead the way in helping people across the world. As a result, since 1997 the aid budget had trebled (compared to being halved under the Tories); Britain's global leadership has led to real results - such as the historic aid package agreed at Gleneagles - and we have written off 100% of debt owed by the world's most heavily indebted countries, to name just a few.
Unlike so many statistics used in politics, the translation of these measures is clear to see. Like the 2 million girls now being educated in Afghanistan; or the millions of people in Bangladesh who now have clean water; or those in Africa who now have access to antiretroviral drugs to treat HIV/Aids.
This record is one that we in the Labour party are very proud of. But, as the session with Alexander last week reminded us, it is not one that should be taken for granted in the future. Political decisions and political pressure could change.
Put simply, our votes and our choices in Manchester (or other parts of the UK) matter to many more people around the world. Our individual and collective action - as was demonstrated in the Make Poverty History campaign - can have a huge impact.
Who is in government matters even more. Although my seat is a contest between Labour and the Lib Dems, it could well make the difference between a Labour and a Tory government at the next election. In terms of international development, this choice is a very clear one.
Fundraising with Ed Balls
Cabinet ministers seem to be like buses - you get none for ages and then three come around at once. Our Labour party gala dinner with the schools and children secretary Ed Balls also took place this week.
In an era when party fundraising is badly tainted, dinners are a really good way of raising cash for campaigning. Lots of people giving very small amounts of money through ticket sales and raffle prizes: yes, it's much harder work than big donations, but I think it's a more democratic and transparent way of fundraising.
Hosted at the fabulous Sangam restaurant in Didsbury, nearly 200 guests came for a curry and to take part in the obligatory raffle and auction, and to hear from the secretary of state. Not only did we raise a fair bit of money for leaflets, but everyone had a good night too.
I was pleased to see that someone had posted pictures and commentary of the night on their blog site. That was until I scrolled to bottom to see the first comment, "Go easy on Lucy when you tell her not to wear that blouse again"! I'm glad it all boils down to the way I look ...
