Hello Thomas.  This is fairly easy to trouble-shoot, or at least eliminate some of the possible issues.

    Remove the handle at the yoke (one single screw/bolt.  Use large screwdriver)  The handle literally unplugs and (again, literally) has a 'traditional' electrical outlet at its base.  Plug a known/working lamp or small appliance (that you know is in the "ON" position),  into the base of the handle, then the vac cord into the wall and flip the switch in the handle.  If the appliance does NOT come on, it is somewhere in the vac plug/cord/vac switch/ handle.  I would then examine the cord/plug next, then consider the switch (which actually is offset, meaning it is improperly installed inside the upper handle.)

Hope this helps.      P.S.  If you have a smaller-ended extension cord or older Kirby cord, plug the female end of the cord into the prongs inside the yoke/base of your Hoover and plug the cord into the wall.  THAT should make the vacuum run unless it is a base/motor issue.  Both of these 'tests' are actually all pretty straight-forward and should be easy to do.

Rick