ALEXANDRA SHULMAN: At a time when there is relentless downbeat news, the football - despite being controversially hosted in Qatar - has come along as a mightily welcome distraction.
As the publicity averse political spouse stepped into the public eye once again this week, many are wondering if the elegant former solicitor might just be Sir Keir’s secret weapon?
HENRY DEEDES: I ve said it before, but she is much underused as an electoral asset. Certainly a far more potent vote-winner than anything we heard from her hubby.