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In November 2018, Steve Bannon, previously a top aide to Donald Trump, was in the UK preparing for a speech at the Oxford Union.

The event was disrupted by hundreds of protesters, and Bannon, who was due to board a flight that night, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Protesters slowed down speech I doubt I can make the flight we r enroute to heathrow".

Epstein replied: "There. Is a Gulf Air that leaves at 9:50 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "You are an amazing assistant".

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

The release by the House oversight committee includes an text conversation where Bannon's identity is withheld. The BBC has been able to establish his involvement by matching the dates, events, and places mentioned.

For instance, Epstein talks about arranging a plane from Scotland for the unnamed individual in the chat, and commends their "Oxford speech". Bannon participated in the Edinburgh conference on November 14, and gave the speech at the Oxford on November 16.

Bannon, who is not accused of any misconduct, did not reply on the inquiry.

'I'll make sure you're well looked after'

Bannon was one of Trump's key advisers in the run up to the 2016 election and during the initial phase of his first administration, but stepped down from the White House in August 2017.

He has admitted he was making a film about Epstein prior to his passing and allegedly has around 15 hours of recordings. In a live taping of his show recently, he stated: "We plan to release the film, the five-part series, in the coming year - early next year."

But the newly released materials suggest Bannon's relationship with Epstein went further than documenting his life, with the convicted paedophile occasionally appearing to serve like a aide.

A few days before the conversation in which Epstein appeared to have booked a private plane for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "what's it like to have the most highly paid booking agent in history ".

Bannon thanked him: "U r pretty good asst", to which Epstein responded "Therapies. Not Included".

Discussing a trip to "AD" in a separate text, Epstein told Bannon: "I will ensure you are taken care of."

UK Politics Mentioned in Exchanges

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

On the same day his address at the Oxford Union, Bannon texted Epstein: "I became involved in the EU exit issue this day with Farage, Johnson and Rees Mogg."

Then, in what appears to be a allusion to Theresa May, the embattled British leader at the period, he added: "The guys are attempting to move on. may today / tomorrow…"

Epstein advised Bannon: "In my view remaining as much as you can in the UK. Best-- so others see the commitment of your follow-up."

Soon after, Epstein inquired: "Will Theresa May survive". Bannon answered: "I don't see how however the guys here have no balls" and added "Boris ; Michael Gove; Rees Mogg; David Davis - somebody has to take charge".

May was finally toppled in May 2019 after withstanding multiple attempts of lack of support in late 2018.

A representative for Reform UK told the BBC: "Farage has not been in a gathering with Steve Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Johnson." And there is no evidence such a meeting took place.

The US House of Representatives will decide next week on whether the justice department should release all its records concerning its investigation into Epstein, who died in jail in that year.

Attention in Epstein's associations with powerful figures was renewed this week after the release of over 20,000 pages from his estate.

Some of those referenced Trump, who has consistently denied any wrongdoing. The president was a friend of Epstein's for a long time, but says they fell out in the 2000s, two years before Epstein was initially charged.