Bob Neill was born in 1952 and educated at Abbs Cross Grammar School, Hornchurch. He went on to study Law at the London School of Economics which led to a successful career as a barrister specialising in criminal law.

Bob was elected as MP for Bromley and Chislehurst in June 2006. This followed the sudden death of The Rt Hon Eric Forth. Following Bob's election to Parliament he was appointed to the Justice Select Committee, which scrutinises the work of the new Ministry of Justice, the Courts and legal system, the work of the government law officers as well as devolution issues.

After only a year in Parliament Bob was appointed Shadow London Minister, joining the Shadow Communities & Local Government team. In 2008 he was made Shadow Local Government Minister and Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party and in January 2009, Bob also took over the shadow planning brief. From May 2010 to September 2012, Bob was appointed as Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department of Communities and Local Government. In this role, he had responsibilities for the Fire Service, Thames Gateway, the Olympics, local government and planning.

Bob was knighted in the 2020 New Year Honours for political service.