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

The speech was disrupted by hundreds of demonstrators, and Bannon, scheduled to travel that night, told Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Protesters delayed speech don't think I can catch the flight we are heading to heathrow".

Epstein responded: "There. Is a Gulf Air that leaves at 9:50 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "You are an excellent helper".

These messages were published on Wednesday together with over 20,000 pages from the estate of Epstein, the late financier convicted of sex crimes.

The release by the Congressional committee contains an iMessage chat where Bannon's identity is withheld. The BBC has been able to establish his involvement 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 "address at Oxford". Bannon took part in the News Xchange conference on November 14, and gave the talk at the Oxford on November 16.

Bannon, who faces no allegations of any wrongdoing, did not reply on the request for comment.

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

Bannon was one of Trump's closest aides in the lead-up to the 2016 election and in the early days of his first administration, but stepped down from the White House in August 2017.

He has admitted he was making a film about Epstein before his passing and reportedly has around 15 hours of footage. In a recording of his podcast earlier this year, he said: "We're going to publish the series, the multi-part documentary, in the coming year - early next year."

But the recently disclosed materials suggest Bannon's connection with Epstein went further than being his biographer, with the convicted paedophile at times seeming to act like a aide.

A short time before the exchange in which Epstein appeared to have arranged a private plane for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "what's it like to have the most highly paid booking agent in history ".

Bannon thanked him: "You are quite capable assistant", to which Epstein replied "Therapies. Excluded".

Discussing a visit to "Abu Dhabi" in another message, Epstein told Bannon: "I will ensure you're taken care of."

British Affairs Mentioned in Exchanges

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

On the day of his address at the Oxford, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the EU exit thing this morning with Farage, Boris and Mogg."

Then, in what appears to be a reference to the UK prime minister, the struggling UK prime minister at the time, he added: "They are attempting to move on. may soon…"

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

Soon after, Epstein asked: "Will Theresa May remain in power". Bannon replied: "I don't see how however the guys here have little courage" and added "Boris ; Gove; Rees Mogg; Davis - somebody has to step up".

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

A representative for Reform UK informed media: "Farage has not been in a meeting with Steve Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest that encounter occurred.

The Congress will decide next week on whether the justice department should make public all its records concerning its probe into Epstein, who passed away in jail in that year.

Interest in Epstein's associations with powerful figures was reignited recently after the publication of over 20,000 pages from his archives.

Some of those mentioned Trump, who has consistently rejected any impropriety. The president was a friend of Epstein's for a long time, but says they fell out in the 2000s, a couple of years before Epstein was first arrested.