Carol McGiffin expressed an unpopular viewpoint with the Loose Women audience about Jacinda Ardern’s shock resignation.

Holding back tears, the New Zealand prime minister announced on Thursday that February 7 will be her last day in the top job, with a general election called for October 14.

Citing burnout as the main motivation behind her decision to quit, the 42-year-old explained: ‘I know what this job takes, and I know that I no longer have enough in the tank to do it justice. It is that simple.’

Her departure was discussed on Thursday’s Loose Women, which was hosted by Carol, 62, along with Nadia Sawalha, Sunetra Sarker and Brenda Edwards.

On the topic of quitting, Carol said: ‘Can I just say about Jacinda Ardern, I think there’s something a little bit dishonest about what she said because I think she’s been found out and she knows she’s not going to win the next election.

‘So she’s kind of quitting while she’s ahead, right?’ Carol added, which didn’t go down well with the audience, who booed.

Carol McGiffin described the resignation as ‘admirable’ as well as ‘cowardly’ (Picture: ITV)

Arden became emotional when she announced she was quitting as PM (Picture: Getty)

She continued: ‘It’s because she knows that she won’t get in again. And that sort of thing I think is, in a way, a bit cowardly.

‘But it’s also a little bit admirable because if you know you’re going to be chucked out, it’s much better to get to leave it in there first.’

Ardern was seen by many as part of a wave of progressive female leaders, including Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin.

The Loose Women panel spoke about quitting (Picture: ITV0

She was widely praised for the way she handled one of the darkest days in the country’s history when a white supremacist gunman stormed two mosques in Christchurch and slaughtered 51 people.

‘Her universal call for human unity with compassion made me cry with joy then, and it makes me cry now,’ said Farid Ahmed, survivor and husband of a Christchurch attack victim.

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Ardern, who became the second leader to give birth while in office, also campaigned passionately for women’s rights, and an end to child poverty and economic inequality in the country.

Loose Women airs on weekdays on ITV at 12.30pm.

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Carol described the decision as ‘admirable’ and ‘cowardly.;