In his absence, backbenchers have responded positively to calls from former Labor Prime Minister Gordon Brown calls for parliament to be recalled. The former Chancellor has also called for the temporary renationalization of energy companies, a policy it believes would cut gas and electricity bills.
A number of Labor MPs have criticized Sir Keir’s ‘creepy’ silence about rising energy bills.
However, they have responded positively to Mr Brown’s suggestions and urged Sir Keir to “go further” by calling for a new cost of living rescue package.
During a trip to Edinburgh on Friday, Sir Keir is expected to unveil plans to end scam prepayment meters, leaving the poorest families with the highest costs for electricity.
The Holborn and St Pancras MP will also say the move by raising the windfall tax on energy companies.
This would eliminate the built-in discounts for companies reinvesting their profits in the UK.
According to Steve Reed, the shadow secretary for justice, Sir Keir will also unveil a “fully budgeted” package of measures next week to help households through the crisis.
However, these announcements have failed to appease the anger among some Labor back seaters, particularly those on the left.
Zarah Sultana, MP for Coventry South and a member of the Socialist Campaign Group, told LBC that Sir Keir had to go much further.
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Former shadow Home Secretary Diana Abbott shared a mocked wanted poster of Sir Keir, which was circulated on social media by left-wing activists.
“Have you seen this man? Missing during the cost of living crisis,” read a black-and-white photo of the Labor leader.
Speaking to The Daily Telegraph, another Labor MP openly criticized Sir Keir and asked where the former Director of Public Prosecutions was.
They said, “Where the hell is he? Where is our leader?
“It’s very strange. What on earth is he up to?
“Gordon has made it very difficult for the leadership to remain silent, but it is uncanny how quiet they have been.”
On Thursday evening, 22 left-wing Labor MPs and colleagues, including former Labor leader Jeremy Corbyn and former Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell, sent a letter to Sir Keir and Boris Johnson calling for Parliament’s recall.