GOOD AT SUMS

[LEO]

Three contractors are bidding to rebuild a damaged wall at 10 Downing Street ;

 One from London ,

 another from Bristol and the third from Liverpool .

They go with a government official to examine the wall.

The London contractor takes out a tape measure and does some measuring, then works some figures with a pencil.'Well', he says, 'I figure the job will run about £900: £400 for materials, £400 for my crew and £100 profit for me.'

The Bristol contractor also does some measuring and figuring, and then says, 'I can do this job for £700: £300 for materials, £300 for my crew and £100 profit for me.'

The Liverpool contractor leans over to the Government official and whispers, "£2,700."

The Government official, says, 'You didn't even measure like the other guys! How did you come up with such a high figure?'

The Liverpool contractor whispers back, a grand for me, a grand for you, and we hire the guy from Bristol to fix the wall.'