Bannon, Epstein, Farage and Johnson and the Plot to ‘Topple’ Theresa May

Newly-released messages between the far-right former Trump adviser Steve Bannon and the late convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, reveal how Bannon worked with Boris Johnson and Nigel Farage to “overthrow” Theresa May at the height of the 2018 Brexit crisis in the UK.

The messages begin in the days following Boris Johnson’s resignation from May’s Government over her ‘Chequers Plan’ for Brexit and show Bannon detailing his attempt to help remove the then Conservative Prime Minister from office.

In one message on 16 July 2018, Bannon, who had established a London base in a Mayfair hotel where he met with prominent Conservative and far-right European political figures, tells Epstein that he is in “London with Boris”, while in another message three days earlier he tells him that “We are overthrowing May right now.”

Johnson strongly denied any such collaboration with Bannon or Farage at the time, with his spokesperson telling the Observer in June 2019 that “any suggestion that Boris is colluding with or taking advice from Mr Bannon or Nigel Farage is totally preposterous to the point of conspiracy.”

When questioned later by LBC about reports of his communications with Bannon, Johnson called the claims “the biggest load of codswallop I have ever heard.” 

A spokesperson for Johnson did not respond to a request from Byline Times for comment following the release of the Epstein messages. 

Bannon’s apparent involvement with Johnson began days after the then Foreign Secretary resigned from May’s Government, describing her Chequers plan as a “betrayal” of Brexit.

In unused footage from the 2019 documentary The Brink, Bannon is recorded telling the documentary makers that he had collaborated with Johnson “all weekend” on his resignation speech.

“Today we are going to see if Boris Johnson tries to overthrow the British Government” he is filmed saying.

“He’s going to give a speech in the Commons. I’ve been talking to him all weekend about this speech. We went back and forth over the text”.

Bannon’s association with Johnson appears to have begun after Trump’s first election victory in 2016.

 “Right after we won [Trump’s first Presidency], Boris flew over,” he recalled.

“Because their victory was as unexpected as ours. I got to know him quite well in the transition period”.

Johnson appeared to return the interest, inviting Bannon’s controversial political campaigning company to two meetings at the Foreign Office’s Wilton Park base in 2017.

Previous Byline Times FOI requests for details about these meetings were refused on the grounds of US-UK intelligence and national security concerns.

Alison Klayman, who made The Brink, said that Bannon had been “unequivocal” about his ongoing communications with Johnson.

Other journalists picked up on the relationship. When Bannon was Chief of Staff in the White House, Johnson reportedly developed a natural affinity with him.

Anthony Seldon‘s Johnson at 10 book reported unnamed FCO officials describing Johnson and Bannon as “hitting it off” during this period — finding him both “intriguing” and “distasteful”— while ignoring repeated official warnings about Bannon’s far-right European connections. 

“Johnson was reminded by officials [that] Bannon had extensive contacts with the far right in Europe, but ‘it didn’t seem to concern him’ Seldon reported.

After Bannon was fired by Trump in 2017 the Mirror reported that Johnson remained in regular contact with him.

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The ‘Movement’

This association continued, even as he befriended Epstein and used his connections and financial acumen to set up his European far right ‘Movement’ with Nigel Farage.

Bannon maintained the association with the then UKIP leader, the Epstein messages suggest.

On 15 July 2018, both men appeared jointly on the radio station LBC, during which they attacked May’s leadership.

Following their appearance, Epstein texted Bannon “Good work on LBC.”

Bannon continued to press for May’s resignation in the months that followed.

On 14 November 2018 then then Conservative MP Jacob Rees-Mogg MP submitted a letter of no confidence to the 1922 Committee chairman in May’s leadership, amid a wave of Cabinet resignations over May’s Chequers plan. 

Bannon texted Epstein describing the UK as a “hot mess” and explained: “I’ve gotten pulled into the Brexit thing this morning with Nigel, Boris and Rees Mogg.” Epstein replied, asking if May would survive; Bannon responded, “I don’t see how… Boris; Gove; Rees Mogg; David Davis – somebody has to step up.”

The next day the Daily Mirror published a photo of Johnson and Farage sharing what was described as a “cosy chat” at a Belgravia restaurant alongside Johnson’s father Stanley, fueling speculation of a hard-Brexit pact.

A spokesperson for Nigel Farage was contacted for comment.

Bannon continued to claim to be working on May’s removal.

On November 16, Bannon told Epstein that he was still in London because “the guys are trying to move on May today / tomorrow and I’m having a meeting right now”. 

Epstein informed the prominent Norwegian diplomat Terje Rød-Larsen that Bannon would not be able to meet up in Abu Dhabi because he was staying on in London “at the request of Boris Johnson”. 

Bannon agreed with Epstein that he should stay as long as possible in the UK “so people get the commitment of your follow through”. 

Journalist Michael Wolff separately emailed Epstein, positioning himself as an “intermediary with leadership challenger Boris Johnson.”

A month later, in mid December, Bannon appeared to still be involved, texting Epstein that May was struggling and that he could “get Boris across the finish line”.

Bannon texted Epstein that May was struggling and that he would soon “get Boris across the finish line”.

May would finally resign the following July, paving the way for Johnson’s elevation to Prime Minister.

The Epstein messages reveal a shared long term interest with Epstein in the long term project of securing a hardline form of Brexit, which May was perceived as being a barrier to.

In the days following the 2016 EU referendum, Epstein had emailed another associate, Palantir founder Peter Thiel, describing Brexit as “just the beginning” of “a return to tribalism, counter to globalisation, amazing new alliances.”

The Epstein files reveal in clearer terms than ever before, just how far those alliances extended.