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In November 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly Donald Trump's chief strategist, was in the UK to deliver a speech at the prestigious Oxford Union.

The speech was disrupted by numerous demonstrators, and Bannon, scheduled to board a flight that evening, told Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Activists slowed down my talk don't think I can make the plane we r enroute to the airport".

Epstein responded: "That. Is a gulf air that leaves at 9:50 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "U r an excellent helper".

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

The release by the House oversight committee contains an iMessage chat where Bannon's name is withheld. The BBC managed to establish his identity by matching the dates, occurrences, and locations referenced.

For instance, Epstein talks about arranging a plane from the UK for the redacted user in the chat, and offers praise their "Oxford speech". Bannon took part in the Edinburgh conference on November 14, and delivered the talk at the Oxford Union on November 16.

Bannon, who faces no allegations of any wrongdoing, did not reply on the inquiry.

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 stepped down from the administration in August 2017.

He has acknowledged he was producing a documentary about Epstein before his passing and reportedly has approximately 15 hours of recordings. In a live taping of his podcast recently, he said: "We're going to release the film, the five-part series, in the coming year - at the start of next year."

But the newly released documents suggest Bannon's connection with Epstein extended than being his biographer, with the convicted paedophile occasionally seeming to act like a personal assistant.

A few days before the exchange in which Epstein appeared to have arranged a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein said: "how does it feel to have the highest-paid travel agent in the world ".

Bannon expressed gratitude: "U r quite capable asst", to which Epstein responded "Massages. Excluded".

Discussing a visit to "Abu Dhabi" in another message, Epstein told Bannon: "I will ensure you are well looked after."

UK Politics Discussed in Exchanges

The released messages also reveal Bannon and Epstein talking about British political matters in that year.

On the day of his address at the Oxford, Bannon texted Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the Brexit thing this day with Nigel, Boris and Mogg."

Then, in what seems like a reference to Theresa May, the struggling UK prime minister at the time, he added: "The guys are attempting to move on. may soon…"

Epstein suggested Bannon: "I think staying as much as you can uk. Best-- so others get the commitment of your follow-up."

Soon after, Epstein inquired: "Can Theresa May remain in power". Bannon answered: "It seems unlikely BUT the guys here have no balls" and added "Johnson ; Michael Gove; Rees Mogg; Davis - someone has to step up".

Theresa May was eventually removed in 2019 after withstanding two votes of no confidence in late 2018.

A spokesman for Reform UK told media: "Nigel Farage has never been in a gathering with Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest that encounter occurred.

The US House of Representatives will decide next week on whether the justice department should release all its files related to its probe into Epstein, who died in prison in that year.

Interest in Epstein's relationships with influential individuals was reignited this week after the publication of more than 20,000 pages from his archives.

A portion of those mentioned Trump, who has repeatedly rejected any wrongdoing. The leader was a acquaintance of Epstein's for years, but claims they parted ways in the 2000s, two years before Epstein was initially charged.