package python-setuptools 20.7.0-1 failed to install/upgrade: subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 1

[Patrick Martin]

attempting to install pip

$ sudo apt-get install python-pip
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
The following additional packages will be installed:
  libpython-all-dev python-all python-all-dev python-pip-whl python-setuptools
  python-wheel
Suggested packages:
  python-setuptools-doc
The following NEW packages will be installed
  libpython-all-dev python-all python-all-dev python-pip python-pip-whl
  python-setuptools python-wheel
0 to upgrade, 7 to newly install, 0 to remove and 5 not to upgrade.
1 not fully installed or removed.
Need to get 1,475 kB of archives.
After this operation, 2,614 kB of additional disk space will be used.
Do you want to continue? [Y/n] y
Get:1 http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu xenial/main amd64 libpython-all-dev amd64 2.7.11-1 [992 B]
Get:2 http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu xenial/main amd64 python-all amd64 2.7.11-1 [978 B]
Get:3 http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu xenial/main amd64 python-all-dev amd64 2.7.11-1 [1,000 B]
Get:4 http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu xenial-updates/universe amd64 python-pip-whl all 8.1.1-2ubuntu0.4 [1,110 kB]
Get:5 http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu xenial-updates/universe amd64 python-pip all 8.1.1-2ubuntu0.4 [144 kB]
Get:6 http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu xenial/main amd64 python-setuptools all 20.7.0-1 [169 kB]
Get:7 http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu xenial/universe amd64 python-wheel all 0.29.0-1 [48.0 kB]
Fetched 1,475 kB in 0s (4,260 kB/s)
Selecting previously unselected package libpython-all-dev:amd64.
(Reading database ... 227429 files and directories currently installed.)
Preparing to unpack .../libpython-all-dev_2.7.11-1_amd64.deb ...
Unpacking libpython-all-dev:amd64 (2.7.11-1) ...
Selecting previously unselected package python-all.
Preparing to unpack .../python-all_2.7.11-1_amd64.deb ...
Unpacking python-all (2.7.11-1) ...
Selecting previously unselected package python-all-dev.
Preparing to unpack .../python-all-dev_2.7.11-1_amd64.deb ...
Unpacking python-all-dev (2.7.11-1) ...
Selecting previously unselected package python-pip-whl.
Preparing to unpack .../python-pip-whl_8.1.1-2ubuntu0.4_all.deb ...
Unpacking python-pip-whl (8.1.1-2ubuntu0.4) ...
Selecting previously unselected package python-pip.
Preparing to unpack .../python-pip_8.1.1-2ubuntu0.4_all.deb ...
Unpacking python-pip (8.1.1-2ubuntu0.4) ...
Selecting previously unselected package python-setuptools.
Preparing to unpack .../python-setuptools_20.7.0-1_all.deb ...
Unpacking python-setuptools (20.7.0-1) ...
Selecting previously unselected package python-wheel.
Preparing to unpack .../python-wheel_0.29.0-1_all.deb ...
Unpacking python-wheel (0.29.0-1) ...
Processing triggers for man-db (2.7.5-1) ...
Setting up python-coverage (3.7.1+dfsg.1-1ubuntu7) ...
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/usr/bin/pycompile", line 35, in <module>
    from debpython.version import SUPPORTED, debsorted, vrepr, \
  File "/usr/share/python/debpython/version.py", line 24, in <module>
    from ConfigParser import SafeConfigParser
ImportError: No module named 'ConfigParser'
dpkg: error processing package python-coverage (--configure):
 subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 1
Setting up libpython-all-dev:amd64 (2.7.11-1) ...
Setting up python-all (2.7.11-1) ...
Setting up python-all-dev (2.7.11-1) ...
Setting up python-pip-whl (8.1.1-2ubuntu0.4) ...
Setting up python-pip (8.1.1-2ubuntu0.4) ...
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/usr/bin/pycompile", line 35, in <module>
    from debpython.version import SUPPORTED, debsorted, vrepr, \
  File "/usr/share/python/debpython/version.py", line 24, in <module>
    from ConfigParser import SafeConfigParser
ImportError: No module named 'ConfigParser'
dpkg: error processing package python-pip (--configure):
 subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 1
Setting up python-setuptools (20.7.0-1) ...
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/usr/bin/pycompile", line 35, in <module>
    from debpython.version import SUPPORTED, debsorted, vrepr, \
  File "/usr/share/python/debpython/version.py", line 24, in <module>
    from ConfigParser import SafeConfigParser
ImportError: No module named 'ConfigParser'
dpkg: error processing package python-setuptools (--configure):
 subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 1
Setting up python-wheel (0.29.0-1) ...
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/usr/bin/pycompile", line 35, in <module>
    from debpython.version import SUPPORTED, debsorted, vrepr, \
  File "/usr/share/python/debpython/version.py", line 24, in <module>
    from ConfigParser import SafeConfigParser
ImportError: No module named 'ConfigParser'
dpkg: error processing package python-wheel (--configure):
 subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 1
No apport report written because MaxReports has already been reached
                                                                    Errors were encountered while processing:
 python-coverage
 python-pip
 python-setuptools
 python-wheel
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)

ProblemType: Package
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 16.04
Package: python-setuptools 20.7.0-1
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 4.4.0-62.83-generic 4.4.40
Uname: Linux 4.4.0-62-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.20.1-0ubuntu2.5
Architecture: amd64
Date: Tue Mar 7 20:26:17 2017
Dependencies: python-pkg-resources 20.7.0-1
ErrorMessage: subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 1
InstallationDate: Installed on 2016-11-19 (107 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 16.04.1 LTS "Xenial Xerus" - Release amd64 (20160719)
PackageArchitecture: all
RelatedPackageVersions:
 dpkg 1.18.4ubuntu1.1
 apt 1.2.19
SourcePackage: python-setuptools
Title: package python-setuptools 20.7.0-1 failed to install/upgrade: subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 1
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)

[Patrick Martin (patrickmmartin)]

This is another one where the default python is to blame

sudo update-alternatives --config python is the fix