Loose Women viewers have hit out at panellist Carol McGiffin for her treatment of Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, after the host compared her mask-flouting rule to the Partygate antics of the British Government.
The First Minister found herself in the wave of a Carol McGiffin onslaught as she stated: "How can you say Boris shouldn't just have to apologise and should resign, when you have also broken your own rules, rules that you put in place to protect your nation?"
Nicola Sturgeon responded: "I believe that there were six parties during the height of the tightest lockdown restrictions that Boris not only organised but attended.
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"I left my mask in my pocket for five seconds as I was called into a barber's shop, and immediately put it on after I realised. Something I am sure everyone in this room and people watching have done before.
"I think we will have to agree to disagree on this matter, Carol, as we are getting nowhere with this discussion."
Viewers flocked to social media to express their outrage at the Loose Women panellist, with one Twitter user stating: "I never usually watch #loosewomen but Carol trying to say that Nicola forgetting a face mask for a few seconds is as bas as Bojo having like 6 parties during the worst of the pandemic is the same... ehm think Carol needs a reality check."
Another wrote: "Carol suggesting forgetting a face mask momentarily is the same as Boris having parties in lockdown says enough about her. Embarrassing scenes. #LooseWomen"
And a third wrote: "Carol asking @NicolaSturgeon if she will resign because she forgot to wear a mask for a few mins as opposed to boris who held parties. Err no really the same thing? #ToriesPartiedWhilePeopleDied #loosewomen"
A fourth added: "What is McGuffin all about??? She’s like a school bully man #loosewomen"
Further comments read: "Desperate stuff from Carol McGiffin comparing briefly not wearing a face mask last week to Downing Street shenanigans at height of pandemic eh.... #Loosewomen"
And another added: "Oh spare me, Carol, you're coming across as so petty on today's @loosewomen Like her or not, there's no need to be quite so rude to @NicolaSturgeon #loosewomen"
The discussion quickly moved onto the First Minister's personal experience with having children, the menopause and fostering.
Ms Sturgeon said: "I feel instinctively uncomfortable talking about the menopause, as there is still an air of stigma surrounding it, and I know within my position of power that I have a duty to discuss these inherently personal things to a wider audience.
"My job is not the only reason I haven't been able to have children, circumstances have led me to the point that me and my husband haven't been able to have children.
"I spoke about my experience having a miscarriage when I went through that, and there's still a lot of stigma around that as well, so I think it is important to open up and discuss this."
However, this caused further questions to be asked of the Loose Women panel, as one Twitter user wrote: "Not sure i liked the question on whether Nicola Sturgeon had prioritised her career over having a family just then #loosewomen hopefully i misunderstood the question."
Loose Women resumes on Thursday, April 21 on ITV from 12:30pm.
