package cron 3.0pl1-128ubuntu1 failed to install/upgrade: package is in a very bad inconsistent state; you should reinstall it before attempting a removal

auto report

ProblemType: Package
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 16.04
Package: cron 3.0pl1-128ubuntu1
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 4.3.0-2.11-generic 4.3.0
Uname: Linux 4.3.0-2-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.19.4-0ubuntu2
AptOrdering:
 ubuntu-standard: Remove
 cron: Remove
 NULL: ConfigurePending
Architecture: amd64
Date: Thu Feb 18 15:43:31 2016
DpkgTerminalLog:
 Removing ubuntu-standard (1.347) ...
 dpkg: error processing package cron (--remove):
  package is in a very bad inconsistent state; you should
  reinstall it before attempting a removal
DuplicateSignature:
 Removing ubuntu-standard (1.347) ...
 dpkg: error processing package cron (--remove):
  package is in a very bad inconsistent state; you should
ErrorMessage: package is in a very bad inconsistent state; you should reinstall it before attempting a removal
InstallationDate: Installed on 2015-12-31 (48 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu-GNOME 16.04 LTS "Xenial Xerus" - Alpha amd64 (20151231)
RelatedPackageVersions:
 dpkg 1.18.4ubuntu1
 apt 1.1.10
SourcePackage: cron
Title: package cron 3.0pl1-128ubuntu1 failed to install/upgrade: package is in a very bad inconsistent state; you should reinstall it before attempting a removal
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
mtime.conffile..etc.crontab: 2016-01-14T16:19:06.655509