safety valve on hob?

The safety valve on the hob of the cooker will not allow gas to com through when the lid is up, but if I press the plate on top of the safety switch it allows gas to come through. The bracket on the lid looks as if it is fitted the wrong way round. Can this bracket be removed and adjusted as there is a heavy type of spring in it which I think is to stop the lid from falling down

Firefly
February 2013