The first US national convention of the Tea Party movement has begun, with former vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin due to appear as a speaker.

“Members, gathered from state-level Tea Parties, complain that big spending to stimulate the economy is being wasted in Washington and on Wall Street while small-town America has to tighten its belt.

And the coalition of disaffected conservatives is undoubtedly growing in influence – its endorsement of Republican Scott Brown helped his election last month as Massachusetts senator, says the BBC’s Madeleine Morris from Washington.”