Major in Office, Vows ‘Society of Opportunity’

LONDON — John Major, who rose from poverty to become Britain’s youngest prime minister of the 20th Century, took office today pledging to “build a society of opportunity.”

Moving quickly to reorganize the government, Major brought his defeated rival, Michael Heseltine, into the Cabinet. Heseltine’s challenge for the leadership of the Conservative Party had pushed Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher into retirement.

In addition to making Heseltine his secretary of the environment, Major kept the third leadership candidate, Douglas Hurd, in his post as foreign secretary.

“I want to see us build a country that is at ease with itself, a country that is confident, and a country that is prepared and willing to make the changes necessary to provide a better quality of life for all its citizens,” Major said, minutes after being confirmed in office by Queen Elizabeth II.

“I don’t promise you that it will be easy and I don’t promise you that it will be quick,” Major said, standing with his wife, Norma, outside the prime minister’s official residence at 10 Downing St.

“If you will forgive me,” he added, “I will go into No. 10 straight away, and make a start right now.”

Major, 47, had won his parliamentary seat in Thatcher’s first election victory of 1979. She had elevated him to the Cabinet in 1987, and backed Major as her successor after concluding that she could no longer hold on to power.

“We leave the United Kingdom in a very much better state than when we came here 11 1/2 years ago,” Thatcher, 65, said as she paused for a last time in Downing Street.

“Now it is time for a new chapter to open and I wish John Major all the luck in the world. . . . He has the makings of a great prime minister. Thank you very much and goodby,” she added.

Hundreds of people, many clapping and cheering, pressed to the railings of Buckingham Palace as Thatcher arrived. She left with her husband, Denis, in a private car for their new life in a southeast London suburban home.