James Palmer (politician, born 1969)

James Palmer (born 16 January 1969) is a British politician. He served as the first Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, elected in May 2017 and serving until May 2021. Palmer, a member of the Conservative Party, previously served as leader of East Cambridgeshire District Council.

Prior to his political career, Palmer worked in the construction industry. He was first elected to East Cambridgeshire District Council in 2003. As leader of the council, he oversaw the development of several significant projects, including the Ely Southern Bypass.

As Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, a combined authority established to promote economic growth and strategic planning, Palmer was responsible for overseeing a devolved budget and implementing policies related to transport, housing, skills, and infrastructure. Key initiatives during his tenure included the proposed Cambridgeshire Autonomous Metro (CAM), a project aimed at improving public transport connectivity across the region.

In the 2021 mayoral election, Palmer was defeated by Labour candidate Dr Nik Johnson.