Ed Turner is particularly interested in federalism, decentralisation and public policy.  He wrote his doctorate about the impact of political parties on public policy at the sub-national level in Germany, and retains a keen interest in all aspects of modern German politics.  He has been involved in four research projects funded by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).  The first (with Simon Green) looked at the changing nature of German Christian Democracy, and the second (with Carolyn Rowe) was involved in considering the extent of territorial variation in German politics, and in particular the impact of the 2006 federalism reforms.  He then collaborated with the WZB in Berlin and IPPR in London on a project comparing British and German housing policy.  He is now working with Davide Vampa and Matthias Scantamburlo on a project on the German SPD's strategic challenges.  

Ed is currently on a part-time secondment funded by RCUK to a government department.  He is Joint Secretary of the International Association of the Study of German Politics.

Ed has been involved in two major reviews of housing policy: the “Local Housing Delivery Group” (known at the Harman Review), which looked at how to test the viability of councils’ Local Plans, and the Technical Housing Standards Review convened by the government to look at standards required in new housing.  He has given evidence to a Select Committee at the House of Commons and the All Party Parliamentary Group on Private Rented Housing.  He has spoken widely on these issues in the media, including BBC and Sky News and BBC Radio 4(including the Today programme).  He is an Associate Fellow of the Foreign Policy Centre think tank.

Ed Turner is also a referee in semi-professional football.