Heard the one about the eight-year-old Swedish boy who was told he had to invite everyone in his class to his birthday party, whether he liked them or not?

Well, before you kick up a fuss about what a terrible thing his parents have done, to tell their son who he can and can't have at his party, it was actually his school who made the decision.

Last week it was reported that the boy's school had stepped in when he handed birthday invites to everyone in his class except for two children.

The school complained to the child's parents that it was "a violation of the children's rights" and has now taken their complaint to the Swedish Parliament.

Crazy, but this is just the latest event to suggest that "Political Correctness" is getting way out of control.

Before anybody says: "Crikey, those crazy Europeans, aren't we lucky to live in such a normal country", a little bit of research shows we are well up there with the worst offenders and are fully-fledged members of the PC brigade.

In England it is now against the law to play conkers in the playground, for fear of hundreds of children running around with conker shrapnel lodge on their eyes, apparently.

Last Christmas, towns in England were told to have "Happy Holidays" banners rather than "Happy Christmas" in case those who don't celebrate Christmas were offended.

Children at a nursery school in Oxfordshire are being taught Baa Baa Rainbow Sheep and learning that their teacher writes on a chalkboard not a blackboard, but occasionally she may write on a whiteboard without fear of causing offence.

In Scotland schools didn't make Father's Day cards this year, so as not to offend single mothers or lesbians.

We all played conkers as a child and we all "miraculously" lived to tell the tale. I can actually recall the worst injury I ever suffered playing conkers. It was a cruel blow to my pride, when I was beaten by a girl in year four who must have had her conker soaking in vinegar since the dawn of time.

Anyway, while we are in the leading group of the world's most PC nations, there's always one country we can rely on to be the pioneers of anything controversial.

In America a document was passed detailing what was and wasn't allowed in school textbooks. It was decided that Mount Rushmore can no longer be pictured, because "it appears to offend" some Native Americans.

One parent was so angry he said, "Just blow Mount Rushmore up. This nation of "inclusion" shouldn't boast a monument that doesn't include a minority, a homosexual, a dolphin or a handicapped individual."

Even yachts cannot be depicted in Californian textbooks because they are seen as elitist. Well, surely depicting houses can be viewed as elitist to homeless people? If that's the case then surely pictures of cars must be banned. In fact, let's take it one step further, shouldn't all photos be banned since many people can't afford a nice camera?

Typical 21st century book-publishers' guidelines now suggest that: women cannot be depicted as caregivers or doing household chores; men cannot be lawyers, doctors or plumbers, they must be nurturing helpmates; old people cannot be feeble or dependent, they must jog or repair the roof and cake cannot appear in a story because it is not nutritious.

It also "suggests" the following phrases should not be used: "Blind leading the blind" (banned as handicapism), "busybody" (banned as sexist, demeaning to older women), "East, Eastern" (banned as Eurocentric), "fairy" (banned because it suggests homosexuality; replace with "elf") "little person" (banned as offensive; replace with "person of small stature") "One-man band" (banned as sexist; replace with "one-person performance").

I'd love to read the book about the elf of small stature and his one-person performance.

The case of the most controversial birthday party ever is to reach a verdict in the Swedish parliament by September, in time for the next school year.

I pray that common sense will prevail, mainly for my sanity, but also rather selfishly, for the fact I have a few people I wouldn't want to invite to my next birthday party. It would cheese me right off having to spend the day making polite conversation with them, all because of two unhappy eight-year-olds in Sweden.