{"id":768537,"date":"2026-02-16T16:17:21","date_gmt":"2026-02-16T16:17:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/768537\/"},"modified":"2026-02-16T16:17:21","modified_gmt":"2026-02-16T16:17:21","slug":"bannon-epstein-farage-and-johnson-and-the-plot-to-topple-theresa-may-byline-times","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/768537\/","title":{"rendered":"Bannon, Epstein, Farage and Johnson and the Plot to &#8216;Topple&#8217; Theresa May \u2013 Byline Times"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1308\" height=\"1744\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-264900 lazyload\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/print-edition-cover-83-1308x1744.jpg\"  data- data-eio-rwidth=\"1308\" data-eio-rheight=\"1744\"\/><\/p>\n<p>\nRead our Monthly Magazine\n<\/p>\n<p>And <strong>support our mission<\/strong> to provide fearless stories about and outside the media system<\/p>\n<p class=\"has-drop-cap\">Newly-released messages between the far-right former <a href=\"https:\/\/bylinetimes.com\/2024\/08\/15\/the-uks-race-riots-a-trial-run-for-another-us-insurrection\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Trump<\/a> adviser Steve <a href=\"https:\/\/bylinetimes.com\/2024\/08\/15\/the-uks-race-riots-a-trial-run-for-another-us-insurrection\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Bannon<\/a> and the late convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, reveal how Bannon worked with <a href=\"https:\/\/bylinetimes.com\/2024\/08\/01\/conservatives-risk-another-chris-pincher-style-sleaze-scandal-over-claims-new-tory-mp-is-serial-groper-and-bully\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Boris Johnson<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/bylinetimes.com\/2024\/08\/15\/the-uks-race-riots-a-trial-run-for-another-us-insurrection\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Nigel Farage<\/a> to \u201coverthrow\u201d Theresa May at the height of the 2018 Brexit crisis in the UK.<\/p>\n<p>The messages begin in the days following Boris Johnson\u2019s resignation from May\u2019s Government over her \u2018Chequers Plan\u2019 for Brexit and show Bannon detailing his attempt to help remove the then Conservative Prime Minister from office.<\/p>\n<p>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 \u201cLondon with Boris\u201d, while in another message three days earlier he tells him that \u201cWe are overthrowing May right now.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Johnson strongly denied any such collaboration with Bannon or <a href=\"https:\/\/bylinetimes.com\/2024\/12\/06\/keir-starmer-considers-closing-elon-musk-donations-loophole-to-stop-foreign-interference-in-uk-elections\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Farage<\/a> at the time, with his spokesperson telling the Observer in June 2019 that \u201cany suggestion that Boris is colluding with or taking advice from Mr Bannon or Nigel Farage is totally preposterous to the point of conspiracy.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>A spokesperson for Johnson did not respond to a request from Byline Times for comment following the release of the Epstein messages.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Bannon\u2019s apparent involvement with Johnson began days after the then Foreign Secretary resigned from May\u2019s Government, describing her Chequers plan as a \u201cbetrayal\u201d of Brexit.<\/p>\n<p>In unused footage from the 2019 documentary The Brink, Bannon is recorded telling the documentary makers that he had collaborated with Johnson \u201call weekend\u201d on his resignation speech.<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"wp-block-fabrica-article-preview-image__link\" href=\"https:\/\/bylinetimes.com\/2025\/11\/19\/dinner-with-mr-brexit-bannons-european-revolution-planned-with-farage-backed-by-epstein\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-block-fabrica-article-preview-image__image lazyload\" width=\"710\" height=\"395\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/image-5-1.jpg\"  data-eio-rwidth=\"710\" data-eio-rheight=\"395\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>EXCLUSIVE<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-fabrica-article-preview-lede\">Nigel Farage was the figurehead and his partner Laure Ferrari started it. Steve Bannon and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein were providing almost daily support<\/p>\n<p>Peter Jukes<\/p>\n<p>\u201cToday we are going to see if Boris Johnson tries to overthrow the British Government\u201d he is filmed saying.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe\u2019s going to give a speech in the <a href=\"https:\/\/bylinetimes.com\/2024\/12\/04\/keir-starmer-rejects-call-for-fairer-votes-despite-mps-voting-in-favour-of-proportional-representation\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Commons<\/a>. I\u2019ve been talking to him all weekend about this speech. We went back and forth over the text\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>Bannon\u2019s association with Johnson appears to have begun after Trump\u2019s first election victory in 2016.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u201cRight after we won [Trump\u2019s first Presidency], Boris flew over,\u201d he recalled.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBecause their victory was as unexpected as ours. I got to know him quite well in the transition period\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>Johnson appeared to return the interest, inviting Bannon\u2019s controversial political campaigning company to two meetings at the Foreign Office\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/bylinetimes.com\/2023\/04\/24\/bannon-brexit-johnson-and-cambridge-analytica-the-daughter-of-time\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Wilton Park<\/a> base in 2017.<\/p>\n<p>Previous <a href=\"https:\/\/bylinetimes.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Byline Times<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/bylinetimes.com\/2023\/04\/24\/bannon-brexit-johnson-and-cambridge-analytica-the-daughter-of-time\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> FOI requests<\/a> for details about these meetings were refused on the grounds of US-UK <a href=\"https:\/\/bylinetimes.com\/2024\/10\/21\/donald-trump-linked-operatives-ran-unlawful-surveillance-campaign-against-democratic-politicians-alleges-whistleblower\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">intelligence<\/a> and national security concerns.<\/p>\n<p>Alison Klayman, who made The Brink, said that Bannon had been \u201cunequivocal\u201d about his ongoing communications with Johnson. <\/p>\n<p>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. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/bylinetimes.com\/2023\/04\/24\/bannon-brexit-johnson-and-cambridge-analytica-the-daughter-of-time\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Anthony Seldon<\/a>\u2018s Johnson at 10 book reported unnamed FCO officials describing Johnson and Bannon as \u201chitting it off\u201d during this period \u2014 finding him both \u201cintriguing\u201d and \u201cdistasteful\u201d\u2014 while ignoring repeated official warnings about Bannon\u2019s far-right European connections.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cJohnson was reminded by officials [that] Bannon had extensive contacts with the far right in Europe, but \u2018it didn\u2019t seem to concern him\u2019 Seldon reported.<\/p>\n<p>After Bannon was fired by Trump in 2017 the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/news\/politics\/steve-bannon-hard-right-strategist-16881554\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Mirror<\/a> reported that Johnson remained in regular contact with him.<\/p>\n<p>The \u2018Movement\u2019<\/p>\n<p class=\"has-drop-cap\">This association continued, even as he befriended Epstein and used his connections and financial acumen to <a href=\"https:\/\/bylinetimes.com\/2025\/11\/19\/dinner-with-mr-brexit-bannons-european-revolution-planned-with-farage-backed-by-epstein\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">set up his European far right \u2018Movement\u2019 with Nigel Farage.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Bannon maintained the association with the then UKIP leader, the Epstein messages suggest. <\/p>\n<p>On 15 July 2018, both men appeared jointly on the radio station LBC, during which they attacked May\u2019s leadership.<\/p>\n<p>Following their appearance, Epstein texted Bannon \u201cGood work on LBC.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"wp-block-fabrica-article-preview-image__link\" href=\"https:\/\/bylinetimes.com\/2023\/04\/24\/bannon-brexit-johnson-and-cambridge-analytica-the-daughter-of-time\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-block-fabrica-article-preview-image__image lazyload\" width=\"2464\" height=\"1655\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/STEVE-BANNON-PRESS-CONFERENCE-scaled.jpg\"  data-eio-rwidth=\"2464\" data-eio-rheight=\"1655\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-fabrica-article-preview-lede\">Peter Jukes reports on more revelations about the transatlantic right-wing network, and why the Government is withholding key information on the former Prime Minister\u2019s role<\/p>\n<p>Peter Jukes<\/p>\n<p>Bannon continued to press for May\u2019s resignation in the months that followed.<\/p>\n<p>On 14 November 2018 then then Conservative MP <a href=\"https:\/\/www.politicshome.com\/news\/uk\/political-parties\/news\/99881\/read-full-jacob-rees-mogg-letter-calling-no-confidence-vote\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Jacob Rees-Mogg<\/a> MP submitted a letter of no confidence to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.politicshome.com\/news\/uk\/political-parties\/news\/99881\/read-full-jacob-rees-mogg-letter-calling-no-confidence-vote\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">1922 Committee<\/a> chairman in May\u2019s leadership, amid a wave of Cabinet resignations over May\u2019s Chequers plan.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Bannon texted Epstein describing the UK as a \u201chot mess\u201d and explained: \u201cI\u2019ve gotten pulled into the Brexit thing this morning with Nigel, Boris and Rees Mogg.\u201d Epstein replied, asking if May would survive; Bannon responded, \u201cI don\u2019t see how\u2026 Boris; Gove; Rees Mogg; David Davis \u2013 somebody has to step up.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"832\" height=\"535\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-270731 lazyload\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/image-5.png\"  data- data-eio-rwidth=\"832\" data-eio-rheight=\"535\"\/>Messages between Steve Bannon and Jeffrey Epstein<\/p>\n<p>The next day the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/news\/politics\/boris-johnson-nigel-farage-enjoy-13603076\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Daily Mirror<\/a> published a photo of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/news\/politics\/boris-johnson-nigel-farage-enjoy-13603076\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Johnson<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/news\/politics\/boris-johnson-nigel-farage-enjoy-13603076\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Farage<\/a> sharing what was described as a \u201ccosy chat\u201d at a Belgravia restaurant alongside Johnson\u2019s father <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/news\/politics\/boris-johnson-nigel-farage-enjoy-13603076\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Stanley<\/a>, fueling speculation of a hard-Brexit pact.<\/p>\n<p>A spokesperson for Nigel Farage was contacted for comment.<\/p>\n<p>Bannon continued to claim to be working on May\u2019s removal.<\/p>\n<p>On November 16, Bannon told Epstein that he was still in London because \u201cthe guys are trying to move on May today \/ tomorrow and I\u2019m having a meeting right now\u201d.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Epstein informed the prominent Norwegian diplomat Terje R\u00f8d-Larsen that Bannon would not be able to meet up in Abu Dhabi because he was staying on in London \u201cat the request of Boris Johnson\u201d.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Bannon agreed with Epstein that he should stay as long as possible in the UK \u201cso people get the commitment of your follow through\u201d.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/ppl-ai-file-upload.s3.amazonaws.com\/web\/direct-files\/attachments\/images\/153333374\/8abc673f-4a59-407d-aa39-e43d8a0bfe3f\/IMG_1733.jpeg?AWSAccessKeyId=ASIA2F3EMEYE2M56GJXX&amp;Signature=TWOlTlvVqbOEok6Yx4CH29rGEUM%3D&amp;x-amz-security-token=IQoJb3JpZ2luX2VjEPL%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2FwEaCXVzLWVhc3QtMSJHMEUCIQDr9B79Nnjxsg6AYtN9LzOE6oBSVIHZB4ky4Hr5T%2BHwqQIgSfXFuNdzLBQM1bZxOrFcAfNDZEMzrdbmXeOwcxFHQGIq%2FAQIuv%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2FARABGgw2OTk3NTMzMDk3MDUiDPufBraIOecz51KLwyrQBCxekBRWXxubWs9qqoAGMotb9ayLCLUNkacl4geoI4AFG5EB%2FsFnsK2dBJ6V5xROCZ2nIeNJ6KExm7FNtUi%2FINeEpELlawolC0u%2BDhlhALNsTYmA1LT7rZO811OUbafadPDCPSU6KQal0ob9ocdfJMQdFxwBpvXFlnFXesJr30dTYXpB3tHWvEv1txOKNTwvekLj6jQIhXqPgPo8tgdGpVTuJWxetJjNGcUDleQETPnNcGFSdUGINzmx67sD%2B7OPV6B6WdM3iZNg8jzDmCVvTpDMV%2FLznveZhsAkRlsaAvJpUaqiU%2F2swYiB%2F1ajtYjRFALwWare6H%2BB%2FL%2BzTF34zPYZ8EK5TBesZS1qyx4ks79cYXsLITxTFqsETFrLhnF3NyMQZj52FyMCbnzjaQSf8%2ByNhL%2Fafxuq9tSSiHCMYyZFsNQwDFEPqp7ZBA%2FZQVPS1l0IM%2FD%2Fuspz8BqJNlAhfXjUS2VJoGVTPQm5JI%2B5jaxhEIaRPyZc1q%2FjLU0zYqmPpQc3FuhI%2BeTd5irQlfu5DbsHFWosVMyrzdSbyIBX%2FVwpbBe%2F7RkboT0T04Ar28kvrg1%2FEANzMi6RYslp%2BPX1Qd8aixAMNuEnnccC2O0SeZo5%2FoH8aikG3pNrHD9LIu9YDaSnb4jE8q7qfafNpfyvmTY02mJRJtuxhWyafVkV6YQ4lhzn84WsDHVq1VX0ir8GwWHnjWdYwr2gHHoMBBfEX3dGSKAf2eO79C4cM3AVD1S1LswebN4VN3PAZWBnUNbWIf%2F7FtjxjGZWaP%2BxbKqVeIUwmpSxzAY6mAHfAxpVQFMtmZBvcbtHGS0pJ3XHFr%2B2JG5QZJkFmOdULPI%2B77aq1ThbwtffRqOc8voI3TkFr0scGhubBwqvppc94lOIdnzhoa%2F9vZ%2FWfUbyotjlahk0UEH3GQHwjeJ5i66jVlH%2BP6jux62FlSnn20oCopO%2FRtBcdDvy6%2FsAb9y9Q9QVtNTbt9%2BvUUjeh062xHA0sxAMD1fD7w%3D%3D&amp;Expires=1770803528\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Journalist Michael Wolff<\/a> separately emailed Epstein, positioning himself as an \u201cintermediary with leadership challenger Boris Johnson.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>A month later, in mid December, Bannon appeared to still be involved, texting Epstein that May was struggling and that he could \u201cget Boris across the finish line\u201d.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1308\" height=\"401\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-270732 lazyload\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/image-5-1308x401.jpeg\"  data- data-eio-rwidth=\"1308\" data-eio-rheight=\"401\"\/>Email between the journalist Michael Wolff and Jeffrey Epstein<\/p>\n<p>Bannon texted Epstein that May was struggling and that he would soon \u201cget Boris across the finish line\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>May would finally resign the following July, paving the way for Johnson\u2019s elevation to Prime Minister.<\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>In the days following the 2016 EU referendum, Epstein had emailed another associate, Palantir founder Peter Thiel, describing Brexit as \u201cjust the beginning\u201d of \u201ca return to tribalism, counter to globalisation, amazing new alliances.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Epstein files reveal in clearer terms than ever before, just how far those alliances extended. <\/p>\n<p>ENJOYING THIS ARTICLE? HELP US TO PRODUCE MORE<\/p>\n<p class=\"has-bt-white-color has-text-color\">Receive the monthly Byline Times newspaper and help to support fearless, independent <a href=\"https:\/\/bylinetimes.com\/2024\/10\/21\/telegraph-misled-readers-on-climate-change-impact-rules-press-watchdog-in-rare-slap-down\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">journalism<\/a> that breaks stories, shapes the agenda and holds power to account.<\/p>\n<p class=\"has-bt-white-color has-text-color\">We\u2019re not funded by a billionaire oligarch or an offshore hedge-fund. We rely on our readers to fund our journalism. If you like what we do, please subscribe. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Read our Monthly Magazine And support our mission to provide fearless stories about and outside the media system&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":768538,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5226],"tags":[802,748,2000,299,5187,1699,4884,16,15],"class_list":{"0":"post-768537","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-brexit","8":"tag-brexit","9":"tag-britain","10":"tag-eu","11":"tag-europe","12":"tag-european","13":"tag-european-union","14":"tag-great-britain","15":"tag-uk","16":"tag-united-kingdom"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/116081213347653494","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/768537","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=768537"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/768537\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/768538"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=768537"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=768537"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=768537"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}