‘I spend my winter fuel allowance on dinner at The Ivy – others need more help than me’

The Yorkshire town of Harrogate is home to a large population of pensioners – 45,000 of them, to be more or less precise, accounting for 26.9 per cent of its inhabitants. ‘I’ve got my heating allowance, let’s have another bottle of chablis’ Keith Elliot, 70, retired businessman and auction owner, Harrogate “Honestly? “Every time we used to get the money, we’d say, ‘Oh, well, let’s go to The Ivy for a meal, then.’ I’ve got loads of friends who did the same – ‘I’ve got my heating allowance, let’s have another bottle of chablis.’ The fact that the payment was given to people like me at all and not to those more in need is ridiculous. For now, I’m sorry to rich pensioners bemoaning your WFA cuts – you’re going to have to lose it.” ‘I’m getting to the stage where I’m putting off buying the things I need’ Mike Sunley, 68, retired administrator, Starbeck, Harrogate “It’s a scandal that in this country, so many pensioners this winter will be facing a choice between putting their heating on and being warm, or eating a meal. open image in gallery ‘I don’t know why we’re being punished – it’s a real worry,’ says retired administrator Mike Sunley “Then there’s the upcoming Budget to contend with.