This time Labour's Adrian Bailey won with 9,640 votes, beating the Conservatives on 6,408 and Liberal Democrats with 1,791.
They were victorious in West Bromwich West by 3,232 votes, held Preston with a majority of 4,426 and held Glasgow Anniesland by 6,337 votes.
The party also won the Scottish Parliament seat of Glasgow Anniesland.
Of all the contests the Glasgow turnout was highest, with 38.42% of the registered electorate bothering to vote.
While far lower than an average general election poll, the figure was higher than both other by-elections held in England on so-called "super Thursday".
The turnout at Preston was 29.7% while in West Bromwich West it was even lower at 27.6%.
Tories took heart from what they said was a significant swing in their favour in Preston and Glasgow, where comparisons are possible with the 1997 results, both Labour "heartland" seats.
But Scottish Secretary Dr John Reid hailed the results as "excellent" for Labour.
He argued Conservatives would have to be winning government seats at this stage of the parliament if they were to have any chance of victory in an approaching general election.
West Bromwich West was left vacant following the retirement of Betty Boothroyd as speaker of the House of Commons.
Though previously a safe Labour seat, the by-election was the first time the constituency had a genuine contest since 1992, when Miss Boothroyd took 55% of the vote, with a majority of 7,830.
She was virtually unopposed at the 1997 election, as is the tradition with the speaker's seat.
This time Labour's Adrian Bailey won with 9,640 votes, beating the Conservatives on 6,408 and Liberal Democrats with 1,791.
The Preston poll was held after the death in September of veteran Labour MP Audrey Wise, who held the seat with an 18,680 majority in 1997, hoovering up 61% of the vote.
Mark Hendrick, a former MEP for the area, won with 9,765 votes compared to 5,339 for the Tories and the Liberal Democrats on 3,454.
The death of Scotland's first minister Donald Dewar in October left vacancies for both his Westminster and Holyrood seats.
Mr Dewar secured a 15,154 majority for Labour at the last general election with 62% of the vote.
This time John Robertson, chief of the local Anniesland Labour Party, succeeded Mr Dewar at Westminster with 10,539 votes.
The SNP polled 4,202, the Tories 2,188 and Liberal Democrats 1,630.
In the Scottish Parliament contest, Labour's Glasgow city councillor Bill Butler won with 9,838 votes.
The SNP gained 4,462, the Conservatives 2,148, while the Scottish Socialist Party polled 1,429 - beating the Liberal Democrats into fifth place with 1,384.
Dr Reid hailed the results, saying governments traditionally do badly in by-elections.
"Mr Hague will be a very worried man this morning."
But Conservative chairman Michael Ancram said: "I am pleased with these results."
"In Labour heartlands, we have shown that we can achieve a favourable swing from the position we were in 1992, when we won the general election."
Liberal Democrat Leader Charles Kennedy said: "The by-elections show no enthusiasm for Labour, no hope for the Tories and a steady advance for the Liberal Democrats."