While war wages in Iraq, the somewhat inconsequential fate of the traditional hot cross bun has stirred up town halls across the country, including Liverpool's.
The first volley in this particular engagement was fired on March 16, when The Sunday Telegraph reported that a number of councils, including Liverpool, had banned hot cross buns this Easter.
The reason? Because the cross might offend non-Christians.
As a piece of political correctness gone barmy, it was an absolute classic.
The problem? It was also completely untrue.
When the story first appeared, the Daily Post immediately contacted Liverpool City Council which confirmed no such policy was in place, a fact reported last week in our Brocklebank gossip column.
But the story was still used as the basis for a half-page column by Richard Littlejohn in The Sun and repeated by the Municipal Journal and other publications.
Truth certainly appeared not to be getting in the way of a good story, prompting Liverpool City Council's initial good humour to give way to anger.
The authority is considering reporting The Sunday Telegraph to the Pres s Complai nt s Commission.
Liverpool's assistant director for media Matt Finnegan said: "The Sunday Telegraph contacted us but never asked if we had stopped school canteens selling hot cross buns. They asked questions about dinner menus and special meals for Easter.
"The story is just not true. The other councils named, Tower Hamlets, York, Wakefield, Birmingham, have also not banned hot cross buns.
"We've never provided hot cross buns.
"We've tried to have a laugh about this but it is insidious and nasty and is inclined to stir up hatred.
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