[9] He defeated Cambridge city councillor Katie Thornburrow in a vote of party members in November 2020.

[10] Aidan Van de Weyer, the deputy leader of South Cambridgeshire District Council, was their candidate.

[12][13][14] Van de Weyer and Johnson opposed plans considered by Palmer to build new garden villages to help fund the metro project.

[20] He cancelled plans for an autonomous metro system that he described as having "all the hallmarks of being an expensive folly and a potential financial blackhole".

[22] Tim Wotherspoon, a Conservative councillor who lost his seat in the concurrent county council election, said Palmer "had it coming".

[23] Van der Weyer stood down as the deputy leader of South Cambridgeshire District Council to "recharge [his] batteries" after the campaign.