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World beating is the sort of boosterous phrase that Boris Johnson loves to deploy.

For a long time it appeared that it only really applied to the number of deaths and infections

from coronavirus in this country.

But it is now clear that when it comes to buying, developing and rolling out vaccines, the

UK can really claim to be amongst the world beaters.

My guest on political thinking this week is the woman the Prime Minister asked to lead

what he called the vaccine's task force.

He gave her the task of buying tens of millions of doses of drugs long before it was clear

they would work or would be licensed as safe.

Kate Bingham is a venture capitalist with 30 years experience in biotech and the life sciences.

But the fact that she is married to a Tory Minister Jesse Norman and went to Oxford with

Boris Johnson led some to claim that her appointment was another example of chumocracy in action.

Kate Bingham, welcome to political thinking.

Thank you for having me.

This week you've watched the first Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine going into people's arms.

How does it feel given the role you played in buying those vaccines so many months ago?

Well, I have to say I'm feeling incredibly proud and happy and pleased with what the team

has been able to accomplish.

My mum got her appointment through today, 81-year-old mother and just delighted that both

she plus the millions of people around the country who have and are shortly going to be

vaccinated is just an amazing, amazing feeling.

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