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In November 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly a top aide to Donald Trump, was in the UK to deliver a speech at the prestigious Oxford Union.

The speech was disrupted by numerous protesters, and Bannon, scheduled to board a flight that evening, told Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Activists slowed down my talk I doubt I can make the plane we are heading to heathrow".

Epstein replied: "There. Is a gulf air departing at 950 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "U r an excellent helper".

These messages were released on this week together with more than 20,000 documents from the records of Epstein, the deceased financier convicted of sex crimes.

The disclosure by the House oversight committee contains an iMessage chat where Bannon's identity is withheld. The BBC managed to confirm his identity by cross-referencing the dates, occurrences, and places referenced.

For example, Epstein talks about chartering a plane from the UK for the unnamed individual in the messages, and commends their "Oxford speech". Bannon took part in the News Xchange conference on 14 November, and delivered the speech at the Oxford on November 16.

Bannon, who faces no allegations of any misconduct, declined to comment on the request for comment.

Epstein's Assurance to Bannon

Bannon was one of Trump's key advisers in the run up to the presidential election and in the early days of his presidency, but resigned from the administration in August 2017.

He has admitted he was producing a film about Epstein prior to his death and reportedly has around 15 hours of recordings. In a live taping of his podcast recently, he said: "We plan to release the series, the five-part series, next year - early next year."

But the recently disclosed materials suggest Bannon's relationship with Epstein extended than being his biographer, with the convicted paedophile occasionally seeming to act like a personal assistant.

A few days before the conversation in which Epstein appeared to have arranged a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "what's it like to have the highest-paid travel agent in history ".

Bannon expressed gratitude: "U r pretty good assistant", to which Epstein responded "Massages. Excluded".

Discussing a visit to "AD" in another message, Epstein assured Bannon: "I will ensure you're well looked after."

British Affairs Discussed in Messages

The released messages also reveal Bannon and Epstein talking about UK politics in 2018.

On the day of his address at the Oxford Union, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I became involved in the Brexit thing this morning with Nigel, Boris and Rees Mogg."

Then, in what seems like a allusion to the UK prime minister, the struggling UK prime minister at the period, he continued: "They are attempting to proceed. may soon…"

Epstein advised Bannon: "I think remaining as much as you can uk. Ideal- so others see the dedication of your follow-up."

Soon after, Epstein inquired: "Will Theresa May remain in power". Bannon answered: "It seems unlikely however the people here have no balls" and noted "Boris ; Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; Davis - somebody has to take charge".

Theresa May was finally toppled in May 2019 after withstanding two votes of no confidence in late 2018.

A representative for the political party told the BBC: "Nigel Farage has never been in a gathering with Steve Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is no evidence that encounter occurred.

The US House of Representatives will vote soon on whether the justice department should release all its records related to its investigation into Epstein, who passed away in prison in 2019.

Attention in Epstein's associations with powerful figures was reignited this week after the publication of more than 20,000 documents from his estate.

Some of those referenced Trump, who has repeatedly denied any impropriety. The leader was a friend of Epstein's for years, but says they fell out in the 2000s, two years prior to Epstein was first arrested.