Project 02 - button does nothing

Hardware The Arduino Starter Kit
2

I believe the code in question is the File > Examples > p02_SpaceshipInterface:

/*
  Arduino Starter Kit example
  Project 2 - Spaceship Interface

  This sketch is written to accompany Project 2 in the Arduino Starter Kit

  Parts required:
  - one green LED
  - two red LEDs
  - pushbutton
  - 10 kilohm resistor
  - three 220 ohm resistors

  created 13 Sep 2012
  by Scott Fitzgerald

  http://www.arduino.cc/starterKit

  This example code is part of the public domain.
*/

// Create a global variable to hold the state of the switch. This variable is
// persistent throughout the program. Whenever you refer to switchState, you’re
// talking about the number it holds
int switchstate = 0;

void setup() {
  // declare the LED pins as outputs
  pinMode(3, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(4, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(5, OUTPUT);

  // declare the switch pin as an input
  pinMode(2, INPUT);
}

void loop() {

  // read the value of the switch
  // digitalRead() checks to see if there is voltage on the pin or not
  switchstate = digitalRead(2);

  // if the button is not pressed turn on the green LED and off the red LEDs
  if (switchstate == LOW) {
    digitalWrite(3, HIGH); // turn the green LED on pin 3 on
    digitalWrite(4, LOW);  // turn the red LED on pin 4 off
    digitalWrite(5, LOW);  // turn the red LED on pin 5 off
  }
  // this else is part of the above if() statement.
  // if the switch is not LOW (the button is pressed) turn off the green LED and
  // blink alternatively the red LEDs
  else {
    digitalWrite(3, LOW);  // turn the green LED on pin 3 off
    digitalWrite(4, LOW);  // turn the red LED on pin 4 off
    digitalWrite(5, HIGH); // turn the red LED on pin 5 on
    // wait for a quarter second before changing the light
    delay(250);
    digitalWrite(4, HIGH); // turn the red LED on pin 4 on
    digitalWrite(5, LOW);  // turn the red LED on pin 5 off
    // wait for a quarter second before changing the light
    delay(250);
  }
}

but I'm a bit confused. You say:

yattix:
I've swapped the conditional around in the program and the red lights do flash (so if the switchstate == HIGH they flash).

but the code above already is written so that when switchstate == HIGH the red LEDs flash.

Please post your modified sketch using code tags (</> button on the toolbar).