[8] They gained power on Lancaster City Council in 1999 when they more than doubled their seats to 22,[9] sitting as a minority administration,[4][10] with Conservative, Liberal Democrat and Green councillors in the cabinet.

[14][15] Heath placed some of the blame for her loss on the District Auditor's report on "Blobbygate",[15] a scandal over a deal the council made with Noel Edmonds in the mid-90s about a theme park in Morecambe.

[17] The MBIs won 12 of the 60 seats on Lancaster City Council in the 2007 election (behind Labour on 14 and equal to the Greens and Conservatives),[18][19] but Heath failed in her bid to be re-elected.

[20][21] They won twenty-five of the twenty-six councillors on Morecambe Town Council in 2009 with 64% of the vote,[22][23] despite facing opposition from a new group of independents called Residents First.

[24] Evelyn Archer stood down as leader of the MBI group in January 2010, being replaced by David Kerr.