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

The event was disrupted by hundreds of demonstrators, and Bannon, scheduled to travel that night, told Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Activists slowed down speech I doubt I can make the plane we are heading to the airport".

Epstein replied: "There. Is a gulf air that leaves at 9:50 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "U r an excellent assistant".

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

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

For example, Epstein discusses arranging a jet from the UK for the unnamed individual in the chat, and offers praise their "address at Oxford". Bannon participated in the Edinburgh conference on November 14, and gave the talk at the Oxford Union on November 16.

Bannon, who is not accused of any wrongdoing, did not reply on the request for comment.

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

Bannon served as the president's closest advisers in the run up to the presidential election and during the initial phase of his presidency, but resigned from the White House in August 2017.

He has acknowledged he was producing 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 plan to release the film, the multi-part documentary, next year - at the start of 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 prior to the exchange in which Epstein appeared to have arranged a private plane for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "how does it feel to have the most highly paid travel agent in history ".

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

Discussing a trip to "Abu Dhabi" in a separate text, Epstein told Bannon: "I will ensure you're well looked after."

British Affairs Discussed in Messages

The published communications also reveal Bannon and Epstein talking about UK politics in that year.

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

Then, in what seems like a reference to the UK prime minister, the struggling British leader at the time, he added: "They are attempting to move on. May today / tomorrow…"

Epstein suggested Bannon: "In my view remaining as much as you can uk. Best-- so others see the commitment of your follow through."

Shortly after, Epstein asked: "Will Theresa may survive". Bannon answered: "I don't see how however the people here have no balls" and noted "Boris ; Michael Gove; Rees Mogg; David Davis - someone has to step up".

Theresa May was finally removed in 2019 after withstanding two votes of no confidence in December 2018.

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

The US House of Representatives will vote soon on whether the justice department should release all its files concerning its probe into Epstein, who died in prison in 2019.

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

Some of those referenced the former president, who has consistently denied any impropriety. The leader was a acquaintance of Epstein's for years, but says they parted ways in the 2000s, two years prior to Epstein was first arrested.